Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg says an independent commission will be created to investigate last week's twin terrorist attacks in Oslo, which left 76 people dead.
Stoltenberg made the announcement Wednesday in the face of questions regarding how the Norwegian police responded to the deadly rampage.
It took officers more than 90 minutes to reach Utoya Island on Friday, as Anders Breivik, a conservative anti-immigration extremist, carried out a shooting spree at a youth camp organized by the country's left-leaning Labor Party.
Breivik has confessed to carrying out the shootings, as well as a deadly bombing in Oslo's government district earlier the same day.
During a news conference Wednesday, Stoltenberg also issued a public appeal that his countrymen work to ensure Norway remains an open and accepting place.
"The Norwegian response to violence is more democracy, more openness and greater political participation," he told a news conference.
"I think what we have seen is that there is going to be one Norway before and one Norway after July 22," when an anti-immigration radical set off a bomb in Oslo's government quarter and proceeded to shoot dead dozens at a youth camp organized by the left-leaning Labor Party, Stoltenberg said.
"But I hope and also believe that the Norway we will see after will be more open, a more tolerant society than what we had before."
The prime minister also defended extreme views held by the likes of by Breivik, a Norwegian citizen who published a 1,500-page anti-immigration manifesto online in which he sought to justify the attacks.
"We have to be very clear to distinguish between extreme views, opinions -- that's completely legal, legitimate to have. What is not legitimate is to try to implement those extreme views by using violence," Stoltenberg said.
Meanwhile authorities continue to slowly release the names of those killed in Friday's attacks. The identities of 17 of the 68 people who died at the youth camp have been confirmed by officials.
The youngest victim identified so far is Sharidyn Svebakk-Boehn, who had turned 14 just days before his death.
Other victims include 51-year-old Anne Lise Holter, an employee in Stotenberg's office who was killed in the bombing, and a police officer killed on the island named Trond Berntsen, a stepbrother of Crown Princess Mette-Matrit.
Police released new details Wednesday regarding Breivik's arrest, describing it as "perfectly normal.
Amid the high alert following the attacks, police evacuated Oslo Central Station Wednesday after receiving a report that a man had stepped on a bus, left luggage and stepped off. Officials reopened the station after nothing suspicious was found.
Separately, Norwegian police defended their response on Wednesday, saying they had done their best to overcome obstacles in trying to quickly reach Utoya. Police said they were unable to send a helicopter because the aircraft's crew was on vacation. Television news helicopters arrived at the scene ahead of the police, who said they struggled to find boats to take them from the mainland.
Magne Rustad, a local police head of staff, said the response team may have saved 10 minutes by switching to two leisure boats that picked up the 10-man crew after the men had mechanical problems. One of the leisure boats had more horsepower and sped faster to the site, he said.
As the first boat docked, campers running toward the boat pointed north, screaming that the gunman was there, Mr. Rustad said. Part of the crew headed that way in search of the suspect.
As the second boat arrived, however, bursts of fire were heard from the island's south. "Gunshots rang out over and over," said Commander Jacob Bjertnaes.
Mr. Bjertnaes said the rest of the crew ran 350 meters (almost 1,200 feet) through the dense woods toward the gunshots, shouting: "Police!" Eventually, they came upon gunman Anders Behring Breivik, standing with his hands over his head and his two weapons 15 meters behind him.
Mr. Breivik was arrested and the search for a second suspect began along with efforts to rescue the victims. Mr. Bjertnaes said he was proud of the efforts of police and the numerous volunteers who transported victims and survivors to the mainland.
Chief of police Sissel Hammer said the police would launch their own review. "We want to take the initiative to evaluate all steps taken," she said.
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