Special: Norway Responds to Terrorism in the US

As with many other nations around the world, Norway expressed horror at the acts of terrorism in Washington D.C, New York, and Somerset County, PA yesterday. Norwegians visiting the US reported in safely with their families throughout the day yesterday and the Norwegian embassy flew their flag at half mast.

Norwegian ambassador to the United States, Knut Vollebæk, attended a special service at an Episcopalian church last night in Washington D.C., saying that, "A gathering in the church is a way of showing solidarity." The ambassador also said that this was to be considered an attack not only on the United States, but on the entire civilized community.

The Norwegian Embassy has posted a special bulletin on their website (http://www.norway.org) to address concerns about Norwegians who may have been affected by the terrorism. The web site also reassures visitors that newly married Crown Prince Håkon and wife Mette Marit, who were on honeymoon in the U.S., were not in New York at the time of the disaster.

Both King Harald V and Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg have sent their condolences over this atrocity. Describing yesterday's events as "organized evil," Stoltenberg said, "On behalf of the Norwegian government, I wish to voice my utmost condemnation of these acts of terror." Although there is no apparent threat to Norway at this time, Stoltenberg also said that the Norwegian air force and other military and civil forces are on an increased state of alert.

Gry Haaheim, of Norway's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said early this morning that "We have not received any reports that a Norwegian will be mourned." There were no Norwegians aboard the two United Airlines flights that crashed yesterday. There was no mention, in the report from Norway's VG, whether any Norwegians had been aboard either of the two American Airlines flights that also crashed.

Anett Christin, an economist from Norway's National Insurance Fund, was attending a seminar at the World Trade Center with the Norwegian embassy's financial advisor Erik Strom, when the towers were hit. "It shook the whole building and I thought it was an earthquake, " she said. "We ran outside and continued running until we came to an open space." After getting a new passport at the Norwegian consulate, Christin found a room at the Norwegian Seaman's Church where she will be able to stay until U.S. airlines resume international service.

Other Norwegians reported close encounters with the tragedy. "Oh, holy god, how awful it is to think that we would have been there," said 19 year old Elise Gegauff. Gegauff was in New York with two other friends from Norway to attend a Michael Jackson concert. They had planned to visit the World Trade Center early Tuesday morning, before returning to Norway on Wednesday, but overslept. The girls, who are running low on funds, have also found lodging at the Norwegian Seaman's Church.

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