Editorial
The carnage in Norway
Terrorism must be stamped out everywhere
The carnage which has left as many as ninety one people dead in the Norwegian capital Oslo and on the nearby island of Utoya has sent shock waves around the world. The force of the blast in Oslo, which killed seven and injured scores, left buildings in ruins in an area housing the prime minister's office and other government establishments. But a far bigger tragedy occurred within two hours of the explosion in Oslo when a gunman, suspected to belong to the political far right, shot down eighty four people. The fear is that the casualty figures may rise. More to the point, there is the very natural suspicion that the gunman may not have been acting alone. An eyewitness to the tragedy on Utoya island, himself injured, has spoken of the gunman wearing a uniform that gave him a Nazi-like appearance.
We in Bangladesh are as saddened and shocked as people elsewhere. That Norway has generally been a peaceful country where extremism of any kind has been conspicuous by its absence has always been a political truth. There is, however, the matter of the threats lately held out against the Norwegian government by a Muslim extremist group over Oslo's role vis-à-vis Afghanistan and Libya. But the tragedy which has now engulfed the country points strongly to a different kind of extremism at work. Should it turn out that neo-Nazis or similar fascist groups have been behind the attacks, it will only add to the worries of governments in the West as also elsewhere. One clear conclusion that can be drawn from Oslo and Utoya is that Norway and Europe overall have been immeasurably scarred by this gruesome tragedy.
The Norwegian government has gone into swift action to deal with the ramifications of the tragedy and unearth the truth behind it. It is important that the job be done with the urgency it deserves. Terrorism, of whatever kind, must be condemned and stamped out wherever it rears its sinister head.
Our condolences to the bereaved families.
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