Utøya shootings: 'Our son texted us - I love you. I don't think I'll see you again'

Field

Utøya summer was a part of life Ulf Berg, since he was 15. He tells how his son nearly cost

The Labour Party and its youth movement, the AUF, were the pillars of my life. For many years I kept the ship of our former Prime Minister Gro Harlem Brundtland, in my barn during the winter. In the spring would be to prepare for the new season and we would enjoy a good conversation. Utøya and summer camps - which were part of my life since I was 15. When our three children were younger, my wife Eva and I ran a summer camp more than once.

I think almost every year the police were called to the field to a joke or otherwise. A little more exuberant children playing around. I fear that may explain the initial reluctance of police to take emergency calls seriously.

We have a holiday home across the border with Sweden and Eva and I were on our way. We are shopping in a supermarket when our son, Jaran, first tried to take three minutes after the first shots were fired on the island.

had seen several bodies. ¿I can call the police? I tried desperately to get through the emergency number, with no luck. So I called the nearest police station to Utøya Hønefoss. The officer who responded said, "Yes, I think we heard something." When I told him what had been a witness to Haran, his tone has changed dramatically. It was another 10 minutes before the Oslo police were alerted.

We drove the short distance from home, just throw everything in the car on the grass and went Utøya, a couple of hours away. As we crossed back in Norway, Jaran rang again, speaking in low tones. He was in a terrible state, he saw a group of 11 mutilated bodies.

This was the last time I dared to call us. We are moving forward, following the story on the radio. So I called the studio and began an ongoing dialogue in the air with the presenter. She did a heroic job, we keep abreast of latest developments, even sending a constant stream of text messages in Haran.

• As we arrived at the police barrier on the road above Utøya we Jaran a text message: ".. I love you so, I do not think I'll see you again "For the rest of our trip, I cried almost constantly.

They sent us to the road from the nearest town, Sandvika, where families were arrested. Chaos reigned. Five different police operated with five different lists. As time went on the air boiling anxiety impotent rage against the police, anger keeps us from going to the place where our children are being met. But while we were there, our agonizing moment of joy came. A phone call from Haran, saying he was safe and asking us to pick it up.

We signed and drove a long way [the lake] Tyrifjorden to avoid roadblocks. The crisis center in Sundvolden hotel - that's how I always imagined an area of ??low in a bloody war zone they seem. It was horrible. Jaran we have seen, broke again, and in tears. I managed to go to work every day after, but one. But just look at a Norwegian flag, and begin to mourn.

The first thing I did in the morning after his return to Fredrikstad [one hour south of Oslo] would go to the office of the AUF and throw roses at the door. The first tribute that has now grown to a carpet of heartbreaking letters, candles and flowers. Further proof the feelings of people outside the hall began with young people who post their messages in the film shattering window glass plate.

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