Flowers adorn a statue after an estimated 100,000 people attended a "rose march"in Oslo, Norway, in memory of the victims of Friday's bomb attack and shooting massacre.The self-described perpetrator of the mass killings in Norway told authorities there that he expects to spend the rest of his life in prison but two other cells in his terror network could still launch attacks, officials said Monday.In a free, democratic nation such as Norway, there are ample means for citizens to express their views and to seek change by peaceful, lawful means.
So it is horrifying that an apparent neo-Nazi evidently chose instead to seek "change" by gunning down people at a youth camp in Norway and killing more in a terrifying bombing in that country's capital, Oslo. More than 90 are confirmed dead at this writing.
The suspect, who police say has confessed but strangely has also pleaded not guilty, said he wanted to save Europe from a takeover by Muslims.
The threat of radical Islam around the world is serious, as the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States showed clearly. But that calls for strong efforts against radical, violent Muslims -- not attacks on innocent men, women and children. Deliberately targeting and killing scores of unoffending civilians cannot possibly be justified. If anything, the suspect has heaped international scorn on his supposed "cause."
To add to the horror in Norway, even if the suspect, Anders Behring Breivik, is convicted, he faces a maximum of only 21 years in prison, under that country's liberal criminal justice system.
That can't be helped, but for now there should be thorough efforts by Norwegian authorities to determine whether Breivik acted alone, and to bring to justice anyone who may have aided him in his sickening attack.