Norway attacks: Sunday 24 July rolling coverage

As Norway struggles to come to terms with the deaths of at least 92 people in a gun massacre and bombing attributed to Anders Behring Breivik, we bring you the latest news as it happens 10.15am: The memorial service in Oslo Cathedral has begun. Mourners have strewn flowers and candles over vast areas of the plaza outside the cathedral, AP reports. All the pews in the church were packed, and people were even standing at the back and outside, huddling under umbrellas in the rain. Norwegian journalist Ketil B. Stensrud Tweeted: “At this moment, the remembrance service from Oslo is going LIVE all over Norway. The whole country is watching. Not a man in sight outside.” 10.09am: Breivik posted a YouTube video setting out his manifesto for action on YouTube on Friday. It was taken down but has been re-posted on Twitvid . 10.04am: Anders Behring Breivik has confessed to both attacks but denies criminal responsibility, according to his lawyer and the police. His lawyer Geir Lippestad says Breivik acted alone and was motivated by a desire to bring about a revolution in Norwegian society. “He thought it was gruesome having to commit these acts, but in his head they were necessary,” Lippestad told the broadcaster NRK. The lawyer says the attack had been planned “for some while”. He admitted responsibility. He feels that it was cruel to have to carry out these acts but that, in his head, it was necessary. He has said that he believed the actions were atrocious, but that in his head they were necessary. He’s stated that he went to Utøya [where 700 youths in the age of 15-25 were gathered] to give the Labour party a warning that ‘doomsday would be imminent’ unless the party changed its policies,. He wanted to hurt the Labour party and halt its recruitment in the worst possible way, referring to party members as marxists. I think he’s realised what he’s done, and he views himself as sane. He’s told me that he surrendered to Delta [Norwegian special forces]. He wanted to open doors [by committing these crimes]. He will explain the background of his actions and why he actually did it for media. He sits on a lot of hatred for many people, which incorporates most significant societal institutions. He says that there was no other way. He had tried all possible alternatives.He felt that his actions were gruesome, but necessary. 9.48am: The police say the bomb in Oslo was detonated by remote. They have not found any more explosives on Utøya island. 9.24am: This is David Batty bringing you the Guardian’s rolling coverage of the aftermath of the mass shooting at a youth camp in Norway and the bombing in the capital, Oslo, in which 92 people were killed and many others seriously injured. Here’s a round-up of the main developments overnight and this morning: • Thousands of people are expected to attend a memorial service in Oslo at 11am for those killed in the twin attacks on Friday. The Norwegian royal family, government ministers and foreign ambassadors will be among those attending. • The man accused of both attacks has admitted responsibility, his lawyer says. Anders Behring Breivik, 32, described his actions as “gruesome but necessary”. Breivik, has been charged with committing acts of terrorism, is due to appear in court on Monday when judges will decide whether he should be detained as the investigation continues. • Although Breivik claims he was alone, the Norwegian police say they cannot yet rule out there was a second shooter on Utøya island. • 67 youths shot in the massacre on Utøya are still being treated in hospital. At least four people are yet to be found after the shooting. Police are using a mini-submarine to search for the lake where it is thought some victims may have drowned while attempting to swim to safety. • Police say the death toll from the Oslo bombing could rise further as some buildings damaged in the blast have yet to be fully searched for bodies. You can follow me on Twitter @David_Batty Norway David Batty guardian.co.uk

Posted by on July 24, 2011. Filed under News, Politics, World News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.