Reporting on the Norway attacks
Post categories: 5 live blog
|18:41 UK time, Tuesday, 26 July 2011
I am standing in front of a wall of flowers. Attached to a metal barrier, this marks the edge of the exclusion zone in Oslo city centre.
Beyond, the broken windows and shattered lives caused by a huge car bomb. In front, a small collection of candles rest on the white line in the middle of the road. Fickering in the breeze, they spell out Oslo. The final 'O' is in the shape of a heart.
The grim statistics here are now confirmed. 76 people killed. But nothing else seems known for certain. The questions people have here are both endless and yet easily summarised: 'Why?'
100,000 people took part in a vigil through Oslo's streets on Monday evening. So many people, there was barely room to move. A frozen river of grief: it was serene, subdued, sombre.
Parents clutched not just their children's hands but roses. A man dressed as a clown, cheerfully waving a Norwegian flag, gamely tried to cheer up the kids. For the most part, he failed.
A parked police car was quickly covered in roses. On the windscreen. In the front bumper. Tied to the door handles.
People here appear very keen to talk, even to foreign reporters some might be tempted to dismiss as mawkish parasites.
Providing you show a certain diffidence and clear recognition of the magnitude of what's happened, rather than self importance about a rapidly approaching deadline, most people seem to be taking some comfort from the global interest in what has happened here. It shows your listeners care, as one woman said to me earlier when I approached her.
Some people are now heading back to work. You hear the old cliche. 'Life goes on.' It is a cliche because it is true. It has to. As individuals we all deal with bereavement, because we have to. Norway is doing it as a nation, mourning the loss of life, and the loss of a cherished sense of security.
There is a defiance and determination here that life will return to normal. But there is a recognition too that it will be a new normal.
5 live's political reporter Chris Mason has been reporting from Oslo in the aftermath of the mass murder that took place there. You can follow Chris on Twitter.
Related links
Comment number 1.
At 20:41 26th Jul 2011, zelda wrote:I hope Norway can come to some sort of peace following the appalling events that have happened there. I cannot begin to understand what the poor parents and families of the young who died are going through nor the victims of the bombing. They have my deepest sympathy.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 1)
Comment number 2.
At 11:22 27th Jul 2011, carrie wrote:I am so sorry for all the people affected by this mad man.
But I do not think there is any point to this blog. Where is Chris Morris or was Chris Mason sent because it was political?
Complain about this comment (Comment number 2)
Comment number 3.
At 11:27 27th Jul 2011, Fedster wrote:Carrie do you ever stop moaning?
Complain about this comment (Comment number 3)
Comment number 4.
At 13:34 27th Jul 2011, carrie wrote:That wasn't a moan. A blog is there to have a comment and there isn't much to say except was Chris Mason sent because of his political interests, in which case I would like to hear of the political implications of this attack on the Norwegian democracy rather than red roses news.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 4)
Comment number 5.
At 13:52 27th Jul 2011, Hasit Shah wrote:carrie - you don't necessarily have to comment. A blog is there to be read, with the option of commenting if you have something useful to say. Chris is normally our political reporter, but in this case his specialism is irrelevant. He's one of our best journalists, and that's why he went. This piece, as is evident, is a personal observation.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 5)
Comment number 6.
At 14:02 27th Jul 2011, carrie wrote:Hasit I only wanted to know if there were going to be ongoing political observations from Chris. Now I know he was there as a general reporter and as one of your best journalists, so there is certainly nothing else to say.
I don't like feeling I am being admonished (by Fedster) for asking a question.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 6)
Comment number 7.
At 14:12 27th Jul 2011, Hasit Shah wrote:Fedster - carrie makes a valid point. I'd rather not see people having a go at each other here, unless it's part of a genuine debate.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 7)
Comment number 8.
At 23:07 27th Jul 2011, Fedster wrote:Hasit you are right, Carrie i apologize unreservedly for hurting your feelings, you are an integral part of this blog, and it is a joy to debate with you.
Generally speaking i think 5lives coverage of the Norway attacks has been fantastic, i would expect nothing less.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 8)
Comment number 9.
At 08:55 28th Jul 2011, Nick Vinehill wrote:Beautiful landscapes, unique fjords, 'wonderful people' (in fact no more wonderful than any other race) however unfortunately the Norwegians are no more immune to terrorist attack than any other state especially if its weak right wing Labour/Green coalition government commits its troops to assisting USA led resource military occupations! Admittedly the attack wasn't perpetrated by Al Quedia however the identity and right wing christian and political convictions of the accused gunman with a staunch military background undoubtedly means that this shocking attack resonates to a degree from the Norwegian governments foreign policy.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 9)
Comment number 10.
At 08:59 28th Jul 2011, Nick Vinehill wrote:Indeed this is the real reason why I think the accused (Blairvik?) court hearing was kept behind closed doors and why there has been very little coverage of his career and past life. His very demeanour, athletic, well groomed, white, Christian, fine upbringing, military background etc, he didn't fit the natural stereotype of what the authorities want us to believe are terrorists these days. If he'd been Islamic no doubt it would have been held in public and programmes like 'Your Call 'would be running such debates along the lines as 'how do we root out the extremists'; 'will their ever be integration etc' and we'd be fully informed of a run down chronology of every aspect of the accused person's life from childhood.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 10)
Comment number 11.
At 09:05 28th Jul 2011, Pickle wrote:I never heard any coverage of the Island attacks on the radio so I cant comment, but I did hear Peter Allen on 'Drive' on the day of the bombing. I do appreciate the fact we have rolling 24hr news and each station strives to be the first to bring new information to us, but even before we had any semblance of truth, Allen was claiming that as BinLaden has now been killed we always new there would be reprisals.. But why Norway? oh yes, well Denmark have upset the Islamic world so.uh, oh yeah that part of the world..uh must be why Norway is being attacked.. and so on..
I just think the BBC could be better and should be better when this kind of thing happens. Leave guess work to other stations and give us some facts even if it means you are not the first people to put something on air.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 11)
Comment number 12.
At 18:12 28th Jul 2011, GingerTompkins wrote:I totally agree with post 11.The competition in 24 hour news has diminished even further the reputation of journalism.Using idle speculation to fill time also does this profession no favours and yes the BBC/5Live have fallen into the trap of rushing to guess work instead of waiting for concrete facts and evidence.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 12)
Comment number 13.
At 21:24 29th Jul 2011, Nick Vinehill wrote:Talk about double standards in the media!
Clearly under duress it was 'murmered' throughout the latter stages of some BBC news bulletins today that an American soldier had been arrested for being in possession of explosives and bomb making equipment! Not a single follow up report or analysis was broadcast afterwards!
Can one imagine what a post 'News of the World' Murdoch remaining rag would have made of that the following morning if that had been an Asif from Southall or Leicester!
Complain about this comment (Comment number 13)
Comment number 14.
At 19:40 1st Aug 2011, sillynanny wrote:Norwegian eyes will cry no more
No smile will light a face
No laughter echoes on the shore
All quiet in that dark place.
Careless freedom lying there.
No future hopes just dark despair.
Like flotsam floating left to die.
There was no chance to say goodbye
Complain about this comment (Comment number 14)
Comment number 15.
At 10:57 2nd Aug 2011, carrie wrote:Any chance of a new blog please, many important things have happened since this one was posted
Complain about this comment (Comment number 15)
Comment number 16.
At 17:09 2nd Aug 2011, Jackstumps wrote:Hey, where is everyone? World in financial melt down, Syria at civil war, BBC asleep
Complain about this comment (Comment number 16)
Comment number 17.
At 20:54 2nd Aug 2011, stirling wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 17)
Comment number 18.
At 20:55 2nd Aug 2011, what wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
Complain about this comment (Comment number 18)