Irish Offer Condolences Over Norwegian Deaths

The Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Eamon Gilmore, has sent messages to Prime Minister Stoltenberg and Foreign Minister Gahr-Stoere of Norway.

In the messages the Tánaiste expresses on behalf of the Irish Government and people the sense of shock here at the explosion and resultant destruction caused by a bomb in the Government district of Oslo at the weekend.

The Tánaiste has conveyed sympathy in respect of the deaths and injuries that have occurred and has expressed Ireland's solidarity with Norway in face of this horrific event.

The Mayor of Belfast Councillor Niall Ó Donnghaile has opened a book of condolence at City Hall today to mark the Norwegian tragedy.

Sinn Fein Lord Mayor is leading the city in sending their sympathies to the Norwegian people following the tragic events of the weekend.

Cllr Ó Donnghaile signed the book at 10am today after which it will remain open for members of the public to sign.

A UK link is also being explored as the UK National Security Council meets later to discuss Britain's response to the massacre in Norway.

Scotland Yard said it is liaising with the Norwegian authorities amid reports the man behind the terror attacks met other right-wing extremists in London.

Anders Breivik, 32, has admitted carrying out the Oslo bombing and Utoeya island youth camp shootings on Friday which killed at least 93 people.

He had written a 1,500-page manifesto in English, dated 'London 2011' with UK PM David Cameron set to lead the meeting of senior ministers, military chiefs and the heads of the secret service to discuss the killings.

Breivik, a Norwegian with far-right links, says he carried out the attacks alone.

He said he planted the bomb, which killed seven people in central Oslo and later carried out a massacre of 85 people at a youth camp on Utoeya. An 86th person died in hospital on Sunday.

(BMcC/GK)