Victims of Norway shootings

The Russian authorities and people have expressed their condolences to the Norwegian King and Prime Minister and the families of victims of terrorist attacks, following the incidents on Friday, July 22, 2011.

President Dmitry Medvedev, addressing the King Harald V, said: 'Please accept my deepest condolences at the tragedy that took lives of so many people. Do know that at this difficult time we wholeheartedly support and sympathise with the Norwegian people, who are our dear friends. Those who organised and carried out this ruthless and insensible crime will surely be taken to court and receive the punishment they deserve'.

The President underlined that the Russian Government has decisively condemned the terrorist attack that 'is not and cannot be either excused, or justified'.

Prime-Minister Vladimir Putin sent his note of support to his Norwegian colleague, Jens Stoltenberg, saying that Russia was ready to offer all necessary help and co-operation. He also asked to send his condolences to the families of victims and the words of support to those who received wounds or are being treated against the deep shock.

In Moscow, scores of people have been bringing flowers and lighting candles at the building of Norwegian embassy in Povarskaya Street.

According to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the only response to such attacks can be a further strengthening of diplomatic ties between the countries, along with maintaining the civil society that alone can withstand extremists and murderers.

Konstatin Kossachev, the Head of the State Duma Committee for Foreign Affairs, says that this terrible tragedy in Norway is shattering for every humane person.

'In Russia we have experienced events like this one, so we probably better than any other nation understand what Norwegians presently feel. This is incomprehensible and inexplicable. Norway has long been the country with a long-lasting tradition of democratic society, tolerance, and respect for human rights and others' point of view. In my opinion, there was no ground for such radical extremism. We can only once again stress that we offer our wholehearted support to Norwegian government, citizens, and people who suffered from the incident.'

The unprecedented terrorist attack in Norway occured on Friday, 22 July 2011, taking the lives of at least 76 people. The first explosion that took life of 8 people happened just outside the Prime Minister's office in the centre of Oslo. Less than two hours later the participants of the youth camp on the island of Utoya were massacred by shooting. The attacks were carried out by a 32-years old Anders Behring Breivik, a self-confessed nationalist and right-wing extremist. Breivik admitted being the perpetrator of both attacks but denies being guilty. He is likely to spend his life in prison. The crime of such scale is subject to a 21-year imprisonment, which sentence can be extended indefinitely.

Meanwhile, Breivik's actions were denounced by Hezbollah. His father, Jens Breivik, a former diplomat for the Royal Norwegian Embassy in London and later in Paris, openly said that his son should have killed himself and refused to acknowledge him as a relative any longer. Jens Breivik's home in France is currently surveilled by the police after he asked for protection against harassment.

Live coverage as the tragedy and the aftermath unfold from Telegraph.co.uk.

Sources: Golos Rossii (The Voice of Russia), K. Kossachev commentary on the attack, Al-Manar, Wikipedia. Image is courtesy of Telegraph.

Julie Delvaux