Norway: The government moves back into its offices 15 years after the Breivik attack

Fifteen years after the deadly attacks perpetrated by Anders Behring Breivik, the Norwegian government officially moved back into its former premises in Oslo on Monday, marking the end of a long period of dispersed institutions. This symbolic reopening comes after extensive reconstruction and modernization work.

On July 22, 2011, Anders Behring Breivik detonated a car bomb near the government headquarters, killing eight people and causing widespread damage. He then murdered 69 people, mostly teenagers, at a summer camp on the island of Utøya, in one of the worst attacks in the country's history.

Following the attack, government ministries were forced to relocate to temporary buildings scattered throughout the capital. For over a decade, the country's administrative heart thus operated in a decentralized manner, pending the reconstruction of the government district.

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre described this period as an "exile," emphasizing the symbolic significance of returning to these historically significant premises. The reopening includes the Prime Minister's office and six government ministries, now housed in a modernized and secure complex.

During the unveiling of his new office, Jonas Gahr Støre also mentioned the presence of a photograph of Nelson Mandela, a symbol of resilience and the fight against adversity. This choice illustrates the authorities' desire to move on while honoring the memory of the victims.

This return marks an important step in the reconstruction of the country after the 2011 attacks, reaffirming the continuity of democratic institutions in the face of terrorism.