Presentation by Per Brekke, Deputy Director General, DSB, Norway. The workshop on “Learning from crises and fostering the continuous improvement of risk governance and management”, jointly organised with the governments of the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, was held in Oslo, Norway on 17-18 September 2014. More information is available at www.oecd.org/gov/risk/high-level-risk-forum-oslo-workshop-2014.htm

1. 22. July 2011
The attacks and lessons identified
Deputy DG
Per K. Brekke

2. Topics
•
An overview of the attacks on the 22nd July 2011
•
Some aspects and lessons identified

3. A safe and robust society – 3 where everyone takes responsibility
Utøya
Island donated to Labour Youth Organisation (AUF) - annual summer camps
1
2
Governmental office buildings
Main building – PM’s and MOJ’s office
Foto: NRK
Foto: NRK

4. A safe and robust society – 4 where everyone takes responsibility
At 15:26 a car bomb explodes outside the main governmental building
8 killed – more than 30 wounded
1
Foto: VG
Foto: NRK

5. Leaving the area

8. A safe and
robust society –
where everyone
takes
responsibility
8
At 17:27 the first reports of shooting on Utøya. Police captured the shooter at 18:28. At Utøya 69 were killed and 66 wounded.
2
Foto: VG

10. A safe and
robust society –
where everyone
takes
responsibility
10
Residents and holidaymakers’ response at Utøya
Foto: Christian Roth Christensen (TB)

11. Captured after the shooting at Utøya

12. A safe and
robust society –
where everyone
takes
responsibility
12
What to expect ?
How do you prevent and how do you prepare for something that happened on the 22nd of July?

13. 13
Preparedness for large scale catastrophic events
1.
National full scale exercise
Exercise Oslo 2006
2.
Regular audits of authorities and ministries have made emergency preparedness better
3.
National risk asessments

14. Tailored preparedness – how to exercise

15. Learn from past events

16. A safe and
robust society –
where everyone
takes
responsibility
16
Support to the organisation affected
•
The principle of responsibility challenged – organisation in need of advice and support
•
The directorate see a role of giving advise on emergency handling and providing support

17. Et trygt og
robust samfunn
- der alle tar
ansvar
17

18. Et trygt og
robust samfunn
- der alle tar
ansvar
18

19. Et trygt og
robust samfunn
- der alle tar
ansvar
19

20. A safe and
robust society –
where everyone
takes
responsibility
20
International sympathy and support
The Norwegian Embassies in Copenhagen (left) and Warsaw (right)
Foto: NRK
Foto: NRK

21. A safe and
robust society –
where everyone
takes
responsibility
21
People took to the streets with roses
City Hall Square 25th of July

22. A safe and
robust society –
where everyone
takes
responsibility
22
Three aspects for thought
1.
The detection of a “Lonely wolf”
2.
Surveillance of internet activity
3.
The balance between individual freedom vs. national security
4.
Business continuity - keep government running

23. Sectorial evaluations - police
•
The balance between every day business – and the extraordinary
•
Maintaining a situation picture/situation reports
•
Management, organization and joint operations
23

24. •
Demanding and complex incident which was handles well.
•
A very flexible rescue resource
•
Many small and some large fire brigades
•
Cooperation with the police when ”under fire”
24
Fire and rescue services

25. Health
•
The terror attack occurred in a part of the country with large paramedic capacity
•
The health services are well trained for catastrophes and large ability to improvise in difficult situations
•
The will to respond was enormous and the response time very short
25

26. A safe and
robust society –
where everyone
takes
responsibility
26
Psychosocial care
•
Large number of people affected
•
Victims and families came from all over the country
•
Care need to be provided locally

27. Social Media in crises communication
•
First shots fired: 17:21
First Twitter from Utøya:17:41
•
First 4 days: 250 000 messages on Twitter
•
Young people involved
•
Victims and affected told their stories on Facebook and blogs

28. Prime minister Jens Stoltenberg
•
A clear message to the public
•
Used all channels, especially Social Media
•
First tweet: few hours after the attack
•
He was available, head of state and a fellow human through Social Media

29. National grieving process
•
National mantra: Terror shall be met with more democracy and openness
•
Excessive national memory services
–
The government
–
Regionally
–
Municipalities
29

30. Thank you!
Foto: NRK