People working for the various ministries in the government headquarters in downtown Oslo, worry that bureaucracy is holding up planned security measures after the July 22nd bombing.
Several needed improvements were identified after the terror attacks on the government headquarters on July 22nd 2011. However, a lot of the work is still in the planning stages, and employees worry for their own safety.
Not even the windows in the offices of the Ministry of Labor have been secured, explains Curt A. Lier, who is a board member of the Union of Academics, which represents many of the people who work in the ministries.
He tells NRK that many of the employees feel that no one is taking responsibility for further action, and say that it reminds them of how the closure of Grubbegata was handled.
Already in 2004, the police recommended that Grubbegata, the street that runs by the government headquarters, and where the bomb was placed on July 22, should be closed. However, the case was processed for seven years before the street was actually shut down for traffic.
The Labor Party now fear that Akersgata, which runs right behind the Parliament building, will become the next "Grubbegata." 18 months after the terror attack, the street is still open, and if a bomb ever goes off in the area it could create a lot of damage.
Meanwhile, Minister of Justice and Public Security Grete Faremo assures that several actions have already been taken in order to improve security after July 22. It is the Ministry of Renewal that is responsible for securing the government buildings, and who have planned these measures, Faremo explains.
She admits that some measures may be temporary while we are waiting for more permanent solutions to be put in place, but says that she feels hopeful that the representatives from parliament, City Hall, the Palace and the ministries will be able to come together and find good solutions.
(NRK/Aftenposten)
Julie Ryland
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