22/07 gli attacchi terroristici in Norvegia: risposta politica e coordinazione a livello nazionale e Scandinavo

On 22/07/2011 Anders Behring Breivik parked a car bomb in the Regjeringskvartalet in Oslo where the building of the Norwegian government is located. After a few minutes, the bomb exploded killing eight people and leaving many more injured. Almost two hours later a second attack on the island of Utøya was taking place, the man armed and dressed like a policeman shot and killed sixty-nine people, most of them teens, and injured more than 150 others. The terror attacks shook the nation and spurred an investigation and a series of policy responses aimed at preventing future atrocities. The present study will introduce the literature on right-wing terrorism and the case of lone wolves with a focus on the terror attacks of 22/07. The dynamics of the attack and its ideological motivations will be discussed to situate the case within the context of lone-wolf extremism. The research provides an in-depth analysis of Norway’s reaction to the attacks focusing on the improvement of existing measures and the implementation of new ones. The research, moreover, focuses on Norway’s coordination efforts with neighboring countries and the European Union. By analyzing legislative documents, reports, and government sources, this research aims to answer the following research questions: How did Norway respond to the terror attacks of 2011? Which new measures were adopted? Was there knowledge-sharing and coordination after the attacks in managing counterterrorism in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and, to a certain extent, at the European Union level? The examination and assessment of the policy response in Norway and coordination with its neighboring countries will provide insights into effective strategies for combating terrorism and enhancing counterterrorism cooperation at both national and international levels.