INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K Noble has condemned the two attacks in Norway on Friday, July 22, and described the suspect’s wearing of a police uniform in the shooting at the youth camp as ‘particularly appalling’.
Secretary General Noble said that INTERPOL’s full resources were at the disposal of the Norwegian authorities investigating the bomb blast in Oslo in which current reports state seven people died, and the subsequent shooting on the nearby island of Utoya where more than 80 people have been reported killed.<br><br>“Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of those who have been killed and injured, and INTERPOL has offered its full support to the Norwegian authorities investigating these horrific incidents to identify any other individuals who may have assisted or been involved,” said Mr Noble.<br><br>“I have contacted INTERPOL’s Executive Committee delegate for Europe, and Norwegian police official, Petter Dyhre to personally assure him that our global resources and expertise are at Norway’s disposal,” added the head of the world police body.<br><br>“That the suspect now in custody impersonated a police officer is especially sickening. Abusing the Norwegian police uniform which is associated with trust and professionalism, no doubt to lull the victims into a false sense of security, was particularly callous,” said Mr Noble.<br><br>INTERPOL also has contacted its Disaster Victim Identification network in which Norway is a strong participant and is liaising with the International Commission on Missing Persons to identify any additional areas where specialist assistance can be provided.<br><br>“On behalf of the International Commission on Missing Persons, I would like to extend my sincere condolences to the people of Norway,” said ICMP Director General, Kathryne Bomberger.<br><br>“Together with INTERPOL, ICMP stands ready to provide assistance, should Norway request it, in identifying persons killed in Friday’s attacks,” she added.<br><br>"Norway’s police and emergency services have consistently assisted INTERPOL member countries in responding to disasters and tragedies worldwide, therefore we especially want to make clear our desire and willingness to help Norway in a time of need," added Mr Noble.
In the UK, the Conservative Foreign Secretary William Hague said: "I was in touch with the Norwegian Foreign Minister immediately after these events on Friday. Also the Prime Minister telephoned the Norwegian Prime Minister. The Home Secretary has been in touch with her counterpart. Our ambassador in Oslo of course has been in close touch with the Norwegian authorities and we have a British police officer based there in our embassy to coordinate any assistance. And of course in all of those conversations, we have expressed the deep condolences of the people of Britain to the people and the government of Norway and we’ve offered any practical assistance that can be useful to them – practical assistance in terms of police cooperation and in terms also of our experience in this country of coming to terms with tragedies of this kind. And we will keep in close touch with them of course over the coming hours and days as more information develops on this."
