The Attacks and the Consequences

Abstract

A detailed reconstruction of the attacks in the government district and at Utøya illustrates the dynamics of a terrorist operation from preparations until it actually is committed. It also illuminates the vulnerabilities of a peaceful and unprepared society, and the partially chaotic emergency response. After a nightmare-long period of approximately one hour and fifteen minutes, the shooting massacre ended when operators from the elite police counter-terrorism unit Delta arrested the perpetrator on the island.