No Filipino hurt in Oslo twin attacks: foreign affairs

Saturday, July 23, 2011
MANILA — No Filipino was hurt in the gun and bomb attacks in Norway that killed less than 100 people, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Saturday.
The Philippines on Saturday joined governments worldwide in condemning the twin attacks in the country, which is home to 12,000 Filipinos.
The shooting spree began just hours after a massive explosion that ripped through an Oslo high-rise building housing the prime minister’s office. At least 91 people have been killed, but police said more are missing.
Raul Hernandez, DFA spokesman, said the Philippine Embassy in Oslo continues to monitor the situation there following the incidents.
“The secretary of Foreign Affairs states the Philippines deplores the tragic twin attacks in Norway and extends his condolences to the Norwegian government and people,” Hernandez said.
At least 12,000 Filipino citizens either live or work in Norway, including 900 nurses, and 100 engineers at offshore projects.
Malacañang on Saturday extended its condolences to Norway, which plays a key role in the peace process between the Philippine government and the National Democratic Front.
Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said it is heartbreaking for a peaceful country like Norway to become a victim of such deadly terrorist attacks.
Norwegian authorities have detained a 32-year-old Norwegian man, whom they suspected to have opened fire on scores at the ruling Labour Party’s youth camp on Utoeya Island, about 20 miles from Oslo.
The suspect in police custody – a blonde blue-eyed Norwegian with reported Christian fundamentalist, anti-Muslim views – has been preliminarily charged with acts of terrorism.
Pope Benedict XVI’s envoy to Norway is lamenting the terror attacks as “madness” and said the Roman Catholic Church is praying for the victims.
Archbishop Paul Tscherrig, interviewed Saturday on Vatican Radio, called the attacks “irrational and difficult to comprehend, whether they had personal or political reasons.”
The apostolic envoy said what happened is “unbelievable.” He praised Norway as a peaceful country with a “very democratic and free society,” and decried the attacks as a great blow for all its population.”
He said the Catholic Church is praying for the victims and will remember the dead at Sunday Mass.
Catholics are a small minority among Christians in largely Lutheran Norway.
Friday’s attack in western Europe was the biggest since the 2005 London transport bombings that killed 52.
The bomb, which shook the city center in mid-afternoon, blew out the windows of the prime minister’s building and damaged the finance and oil ministry buildings. (PNA/AP/Sunnex)

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/07/23/no-filipino-hurt-oslo-twin-attacks-foreign-affairs-168651