A new memorial marks the 15th anniversary of Norway’s deadliest attack
On Sunday, the city of Oslo unveiled a large sculpture that pays tribute to the 77 people who died in the 2011 bombings and shootings carried out by neo‑Nazi Anders Breivik.
The installation, called Upholding, rests inside a blue steel frame double the width of a standard office desk. Inside, a 12‑metre high stone mosaic shows a small wading bird that lived on Utoeya Island, where most of the youth camp victims were killed. The bird is reflected in water surrounded by a scattering of sticks and straw, a visual reminder of love, loss and teamwork.
The artist Matias Faldbakken explained that the work serves two purposes: to memorialise those who died and to encourage the public to act as a shield against the far‑right ideologies that inspired the attack.
Crown Prince Haakon and several national politicians turned up for the ceremony, standing near where the vehicle bomb exploded. They joined survivors and relatives who gathered to lay flowers and silent protests outside the sculpture.
The memorial sits within Oslo’s newly renovated government district, close to the historic bomb site on the Utoeya island‑adjacent square. All 77 names are engraved on the stone surface, a physical witness to the tragedy that shook Norway to its core.
The country has continued to remember the events. In 2012 Breivik was sentenced to 21 years in prison – the maximum under Norwegian law – a term that can be extended as long as he poses a threat. His ongoing legal battles have sparked debate about national security, civil liberties and how the justice system should respond to extremist threats.
The unveiling of *Upholding* signals a new chapter of remembrance, allowing Norwegians to reflect on the past while pushing forward with a resilient democratic spirit. The memorial will become a gathering point for commemorations as the nation approaches the 15th anniversary.
