Norwegians continue to mourn

World

Norwegians continue to mourn

Close

Bed of flowers and candles grow at memorial site for victims of bombing and shooting.

26 July,2011 03:54 am

Tens of thousands of flowers and candles continued to be laid in front of the Oslo Cathedral as the country united in mourning for the 76 victims of an anti-immigration killer who stunned the normally peaceful nation with a bomb and gun attack.The memorial site expanded throughout the day as crowds poured through the streets of the capital to hold a anti-violence march.At least 100,000 people, many carrying white or red roses, rallied in Oslo to show support for victims.Earlier, Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg lead a nationwide minute silence standing dressed in black on the steps next to the king and queen, the whole group flanked by two burning torches.People across Norway marked a minutes silence and cities came to a standstill late in the morning in remembrance for the people killed by Anders Behring Breivik in a bomb attack in Oslo and shooting rampage on a tiny island on Friday.But the grief was transformed into fury as protesters later attacked an unmarked police Volvo car they believed was carrying Breivik to court for his first custody hearing. The judge said the accused would be locked up alone with no incoming letters, media nor visitors except for his lawyer. A trial could be a year away.Breivik told the court that he acted to save Europe from Islam. He had previously said he had acted alone.Affluent Norway prides itself on being an open, tolerant, relatively crime-free society which has striven to broker peace efforts in the Middle East, Sri Lanka and elsewhere.Breiviks crimes have repulsed the nation, but most Norwegians have vowed to not let it change them. Aside from the uncharacteristic outburst of anger, the overwhelming mood was one of dignified determination to show respect for the dead.