An emotional memorial service has been held in Norway to honour the 77 people who died at the hands of a mass murderer one month ago.
Norwegian prime minister Jens Stoltenberg addressed the 6,700 people who had come to remember the victims of the country's worst atrocity since World War II.He asked the congregation gathered at the Spektrum concert hall in Oslo to look after each other and to be vigilant for intolerance.
Musicians and singers paid tribute to the victims as relatives broke out in loud sobs.
"We will welcome home those who have strayed. But those who resort to violence, we will combat them with the full democratic arsenal. Everywhere they go, they will find us standing in their way," Mr Stoltenberg said.
"Together we have conquered hate. Together, let us embrace openness, tolerance and a sense of community.
The ceremony was opened by the Nordic country's monarch and included a performance by A-Ha, the iconic Norwegian 1980s pop band that was reformed for the occasion.
"Nearly all words have been used by now," King Harald V said, choking back tears.
"These last weeks have been difficult for us, but it's doing all of us good to be gathered here today."
The ceremony was directed by Haddy N'jie, born of a Gambian father and Norwegian mother, representing the mixed-race society explicitly rejected by the killer.
Between passages of music, Norwegian actors read aloud the names of the 77 victims, mostly young people, who perished in the attacks carried out by Anders Behring Breivik on July 22.
Breivik has admitted to last month's bombing in central Oslo and shootings at a Labour Party youth camp on Utoya island outside the capital.
No comments:
Post a Comment