'Tonight the streets are filled with love': Royal family and prime minister lead the nation in mourning as crowd of 150,000 gather in Oslo for 'rose march' tribute to Norway's dead




More than 150,000 Norwegians gathered in Oslo last night carrying red and white roses to show their support for the 76 people who were slain on Friday.



Joining them in the 'rose rally' were Norway’s prime minister Jens Stoltenberg, his wife Ingrid, and members of the country’s royal family - Crown Prince Haakon and his wife Princess Mette-Marit and Princess Martha Louise.



Prince Haakon addressed the solemn crowd outside the city hall, saying that ‘tonight the streets are filled with love'. Rallies were also held in other cities around the nation.

Tribute: Over 150,000 people gathered in Oslo to take part in a 'rose march' vigil to mourn the 76 people who were killed on Friday's twin attacks Unity: The streets of Oslo were turned into a sea of flowers by those attending the memorial march Bond: Prince Haakon and Princess Mette-Marit stood among the crowds during the demonstration as a mark of unity Pain: Princess Mette-Marit, right, and Princess Martha Louise pay their emotional respects during the rose march Distraught: Norway's Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and his wife Ingrid joined the vast crowed taking part in the rally

Dressed all in black, Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg led the nation in its solemn vigil, standing on the steps of Oslo university next to a flame.



Leading the nation: Norway's royal family and prime minister stood shoulder to shoulder with their people

Mr Stoltenberg greets members of the public standing in line to sign a book of condolence in Oslo University, which King Harald also signed before taking part in the minute's silence

Untold grief: People pay their respects at a sea of floral tributes to the victims of Friday's attacks, outside the cathedral of Oslo

Spirit of togetherness: Tearful mourners embrace as Norway begins to come to terms with the terror attacks, which claims the lives of dozens of innocent people

A muffled ripple of applause spread through the crowd as King Harald arrived at Oslo University to sign a book of remembrance, before he and the prime minister faced the crowd standing hushed in the summer drizzle.

'In remembrance of the victims ... I declare one minute's national silence,' Mr Stoltenberg said, flanked by Norway's king and queen outside the neo-classical building.

The silence stretched to five minutes as thousands stood outside the university and around a carpet of flowers laid outside the nearby Oslo cathedral.

The only sound was the squawking of seagulls and a lone dog barking. Cars stopped in the streets and their drivers got out and stood motionless as traffic lights changed from red to green.

Mass murderer Anders Breivik today appeared in court after he planted a bomb on Friday outside Stoltenberg's Oslo office which killed eight, then drove to the island of Utoeya and shot dead 68 at a youth camp of the ruling Labour Party.



Solemn: A couple stand in central Oslo as they observe a minute's silence to pay tribute to victims of the twin attacks

International support: British scouts observe a minute of silence on the Town Square in Copenhagen, in memory of the victims of last Friday's attacks in Norwa

A people in mourning: Thousands observe a minute's silence near the Blue Stone in Bergen

Life savers: Volunteers from the Red Cross and other organisations stand to attention during a one-minute period of silence at noon near Utoya island

Deep sadness: Members of the public lay flowers opposite Utoya Island

Hurt: Relatives gather to observe a minute's silence opposite Utoya Island

BRITISH FATHER TELLS HOW LAST MINUTE DECISION SAVED HIS SON FROM SUMMER CAMP MASSACRE

A British father has told how a last minute decision saved his son from the Norweigan summer camp massacre.

Offshore worker Bob Davies, originally from Stockton-on-Tees, settled in Norway after marrying a local woman.

Mr Davies's son Stian, 16, pictured above, had been due to take part in the event with two friends from their village of Askxy, near Bergen, but opted to go to a badminton camp instead.

His classmates who attended the summer camp on the island of Utoya were among Anders Breivik's victims. Mr Davies, 63, said Stian is struggling to come to terms with the horrific events.

'He's very down,' said Mr Davies. 'I thank God he decided not to go - he could easily have been one of them. It just makes me shiver thinking about it.'

Scores of bodies with gunshot wounds were found strewn across the island. More victims were discovered in the nearby waters after they had desperately tried to swim to safety.

'I just thank my lucky stars he changed his mind about going,' said Mr Davies.

He told the court he slaughtered his victims to save Europe from Marxists and a takeover by Muslims. The current death toll stands at 76 after police revised down their estimates, but many more are still missing.



His court appearance, which took place behind closed doors, lasted just 35 minutes during which a judge ruled he should be initially remanded in custody for eight weeks.



Nordic neighbours Sweden, Finland and Denmark also held official minute's silences in remembrance of the mainly young people Breivik murdered.

Among the crowd assembled in Oslo, people spoke of their distress and horror at the atrocities which gripped the usually peaceful nation.

Shortly before the silence, mechanic Sven-Erik Fredheim, 36, said: 'This is a tragic event to see all these young people dying due to one man's craziness.

'It is important to have this minute of silence so that all the victims and the parents of the families know that people are thinking about them.'



Kent Udvigsen, 42, who came to central Oslo to stand with his countrymen, said: 'This is so very, very sad, so sad.'



Anetta Ronningen, 32, a teacher, said: 'This minute of silence was needed for the dead and the families.



'This will be a significant day for Norway in the future, for the people and the families after this horrible thing that happened.'



Signs of normality began to return to Oslo this afternoon. A wide police cordon around the bomb site was lifted on the first workday since the attacks, leaving just a narrower zone closed off.



Most shops were open and trams were rumbling through the city's streets.



But the flag on the courthouse where Breivik appeared remained at half staff, and the world's media was buzzing around the building.



The search for more victims continues and police have not released the names of the dead.



But Norway's royal court said Monday that those killed at the island retreat included Crown Princess Mette-Marit's stepbrother, an off-duty police officer, who was working there as a security guard.

