Swedish photographer wins World Press Photo prize for Utøya photos

Freelance photographer, Niclas Hammarström, working for the Swedish newspaper, Aftonbladet, has won second prize in the Spot News category in the annual World Press Photo awards for his series of twelve photographs from Utøya. The photos were taken shortly after Anders Behring Breivik had been arrested and they document the police and rescue operations that took place on Utøya.

In one photo, the police can be seen in full protective gear cautiously turning the corner of a small building; in another, a sharp shooter is sitting in the opening of a military helicopter hovering just above the treetops. In several of the photos, Labor Youth Organization (AUF) members that have just been shot can be seen lying lifeless on the ground.

According to Aftenposten, Frode Elgesem, a lawyer who represents the Labor Youth Organisation (AUF), has sent a request to World Press Photo asking that the photos be removed from the World Press Photo website.

Trond Henry Blattmann, leader of the 7/22 support group and former political advisor for the Labor coalition government from 2009 to 2011, said to Aftenposten that he thinks it is despicable that such pictures are part of a photo competition. “I hope for God’s sake that Aftonbladet nor any other Nordic media prints them,” he said to Aftenposten.

Google translation [edited for clarity]:

“Completely objectionable”
10.feb.2012

Support group for 22 July and AUF reacted strongly to the intimate pictures of Utøya victims are honored with the prize in photo contest.

The Swedish photographer Niclas Hammarström from the Swedish tabloid newspaper Aftonbladet received Friday, the 2nd place in the prestigious World Press Photo contest for series of photos of the killing of youths Utøya.

In a series of twelve photographs documented parts of the drama that unfolded at the AUF camp this afternoon 22 July. Among other things, there are several images taken after Anders Breivik Behring has been arrested and showing young people killed. In several of the images can be easily identified victims….

Original article: “Helt forkastelig”

Related: World Press Photo 2012 – Spot news, 2nd price (Utøya – Niclas Hammarström)

Newspaper reveals what happened on board the Utøya ferry

Norwegian newspaper, Aftenposten, has gained access to the police report about the Utøya ferry and published what happened on board as the shootings on the island were occurring.

Shortly after the shooting began, the leader of the Labor Youth Organisation (AUF), Eskil Pedersen, and a small group of Labor Youth members, including Johannes Dalen Giske, the nephew of the Minster of Business, Trond Giske, took the Utøya ferry and sailed far away from the island.

AUF leader, Eskil Pedersen, has said that at the time they feared the attack was a coup and that attackers could be waiting for them on the shoreline opposite; therefore, they thought it best to use the ferry to flee rather than to evacuate their comrades from the island.

The captain of the ferry wanted to deposit his passengers (Pedersen, Giske, etc.) on the mainland right across from the island and then return to the island to assist those remaining there. The captain had seen his domestic partner being shot and his daughter was also on the island. According to the police report, however, the Labor Youth members on board the ferry persuaded him to change course and sail away from the island instead.

A colleague of the captain, who was still on the island, saw the ferry sail by and called the captain and asked to be picked up. According to the police report, someone on board the ferry told the captain they could not do this, that they had spoken with police who advised them to sail away from the island.

After having transported the Labor Youth leader and others to a location thirty minutes away, the captain returned alone with the ferry to Utøya to assist in the rescue work. He was one of the last people to leave the island at about 4:30 in the morning.

Following 7/22, media editors were under pressure from the Labor party not to report on the Utøya ferry incident. When stories about what happened began to circulate widely on social media sites, newspapers eventually began to write about it.

Google translation:

This happened on the MS “Thorbjørn”
07.jan.2012

This is the story of how nine saved his life 22 July 2011 when they fled with MS “Thorbjorn….”

Original article: Dette skjedde 
på MS «Thorbjørn»
_____

The Labor Youth Organisation (AUF) says that there should be an investigation into the many leaks of police reports related to 7/22. The police claim that the leaks are making many witnesses hesitant to be interviewed.

Google translation:

The police have lost many witnesses after the terrorist leaks

AUF will have an investigation of leaks from Utøya-questioning that Aftenposten published Saturday. Police said several witnesses in the case have resigned after the media began to render the victim’s interrogation….

Original article: Politiet har mistet mange vitner etter terrorlekkasjer