By IANS,
Oslo : Norway Sunday held a grand national memorial ceremony honouring the 77 victims of the twin attacks in the capital city of Oslo in July.
Addressing over 6,000 people who gathered in Oslo’s Spektrum arena for the candle-lit memorial service, King Harald V told the nation of five million people that Norway would surmount its pain.
The king said it was his firm belief that Norwegians would continue to live “freely and openly” after what had happened a month ago, Xinhua reported.
The 77 victims – mostly youths – died in the massacre launched by 32-year-old Anders Behring Breivik.
Breivik set off a truck bomb in Oslo and then went on to a shooting spree at a Labor Party youth camp on Utoeya island, 40 km from the capital.
Among the 6,000 people present at the ceremony were relatives of the victims, survivors, police and emergency personnel who dealt with the attacks.
Norway Crown Prince Haakon, Finland President Tarja Halonen, Iceland President Olafur Grimsson, Swedish Crown Princess Victoria and Denmark Crown Prince Frederik also attended the ceremony.
They were joined by Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and his counterparts from Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden.
After performances by Norwegian artistes, the names of all 77 victims were read at the ceremony. Flags flew at half-mast over the royal palace, the parliament building and government buildings.