(Image Source: NewsCorners)
BY KYLIE MCGIVERN
ANCHOR AUSTIN KIM
A new question emerges in the wake of the Norway massacre:
What’s the next step for the country, and rest of Europe?
While suspect Anders Behring Breivik has confessed to the killings, his political beliefs have become a point of contention for some news analysts.
Jonathan Birdwill, Violence and Extremism Programme, Demos: “...groups express their condolences, and then are quick and separate themselves from Breivik, but then are also quick to lay blame -- left-wing politicians, which they say are responsible because they allowed immigration to happen and effectively pushed this guy to the edge.”
Reporter: “It’s a cry that many feel are not being heard by European governments, as people show their discontent.” (RT)
A University of Oslo professor echoes that cry to The Christian Science Monitor, saying the country’s 77 deaths highlight the need for more dialogue.
"‘There is a frustration out there’ that immigration isn't being discussed enough... outright racism is rare in Norway but that there has been a creeping Islamophobia in Norwegian society.”
Police say Breivik considered targets beyond the government building bomb and island youth camp shooting. KTTV explains...
“He had a list of other government and Labor Party related targets. Authorities won't confirm or deny a report saying the royal palace and the Labor Party's head office were on that list.”
Breivik’s lawyer says his client is insane. An opinion writer for The New York Times says -- it isn’t quite that simple.
“To call him insane and let it go at that is too easy, for him and for the rest of us. His hatred — of Muslims, immigrants and, most of all, fellow Norwegians elected to lead their country — is a familiar virus transplanted to a peaceful country.”
Analysts agree that Breivik’s anti-immigrant ideology isn’t limited to the Scandinavian country.
“...a member of France's far-right National Front party, was suspended after posting words of support on his blog for Breivik, referring to Breivik as ‘an icon.’... a leader of Italy's anti-immigration Northern League party and a member of the European Parliament also shared Breivik's view ... and warned that Breivik is not a Norwegian oddity.”
But Views and News from Norway reports some immigrants feel more included than ever, uniting with native Norwegians in grief and condemning terrorism. The Justice Minister says -- the attacks won’t deter the country’s policies on this issue.
“...he’ll propose tougher punishments and possible new surveillance measures, but the fundamental openness and informality of the Norwegian system is expected to remain intact.”
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