Hiiraan Online
and Mirror
Sunday, July 24, 2011
A Somali man
was one of the victims who were killed as the death toll from Norway's bomb
attack and mass shooting rose to 93 on Sunday.
More than 90
people were injured, with at least four or five people including a Somali lady missing
from the shooting incident.
The Somali youth
who died in the deadly attack was identified as Ismaiil Haji 20. Reports said
he was part of the group who died instantly following the raid at the island of
Utoya located some 40km from the Norwegian capital Oslo.
The young man
was reportedly accompanied by three of his brothers who witnessed the shooting
that killed their brother.
Another Somali
family in Norway is missing a girl identified as Muna Abdi Noor 19. The girl
was reportedly part of a group of people who took refuge inside the sea waters.
Norwegian police are yet to reveal the details of the missing people.
Police have
been investigating the background of the suspect, Anders Breivik, who was
charged with terrorism following the blast in downtown Oslo and gun attack on
the island of Utoya.
Asked if they
were exploring possible links to British extremist groups, a spokesman said:
"I'm sure they will do. They are following every lead and they're checking
out everything he might have been associated with." It was too early to
say which groups this might include, he added.
But reports
suggested Breivik had connections and sympathies with the right-wing English
Defence League (EDL).
A manifesto he
published online, said to have been posted the day of the attack, railed
against Muslim immigration to Europe and vowed revenge on "indigenous
Europeans," whom he accused of betraying their heritage. He added that
they would be punished for their "treasonous acts".
The EDL denied
that Breivik, 32, had any links with it and said it "vehemently"
opposed his actions.
In a statement
on its website the group wrote: "Terrorism and extremism of any kind is
never acceptable and we pride ourselves on opposing these...
"We
strongly oppose extremism and always reject any suggestion of us being either
extremists or far-right, due to our great past record of dealing with anyone
who holds such extremist views."
The Nordic
Defence League also distanced itself from the killings, posting a message on
its Facebook page saying: "We condemn this act of terror no matter who or
where this came from! Our duty is to react rational only in democratic
ways."
Breivik's
lawyer said his client had wanted to revolutionise Norway's society and had
"confessed to the factual circumstances" of the atrocities but denied
criminal responsibility.
Geir Lippestad
told Norwegian broadcaster NRK: "He wanted a change in society and, from
his perspective, he needed to force through a revolution. He wished to attack
society and the structure of society."
A memorial
service was held at Oslo Cathedral this morning as the nation mourned its dead
and braced itself for the number of victims to rise still further.