'Tonight the streets are filled with love': Royal family and prime minister lead the nation in mourning as crowd of 150,000 gather in Oslo for 'rose..

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Tribute: Over 150,000 people gathered in Oslo to take part in a 'rose march' vigil to mourn the 76 people who were killed on Friday's twin attacks

Tonight 150,000 Norwegians gathered in Oslo carrying red and white roses to show their support for the 76 people who were slain on Friday.

Joining them in the 'rose rally' were Norway’s prime minister Jens Stoltenberg, his wife Ingrid, and members of the country’s royal family - Crown Prince Haakon and his wife Princess Mette-Marit and Princess Martha Louise.

Prince Haakon addressed the solemn crowd outside the city hall, saying that ‘tonight the streets are filled with love'. Rallies were also being held in other cities around the nation.


Unity: The streets of Oslo were turned into a sea of flowers by those attending the memorial march



Bond: Prince Haakon and Princess Mette-Marit stood among the crowds during the demonstration as a mark of unity


Pain: Princess Mette-Marit, right, and Princess Martha Louise pay their emotional respects during the rose march


Distraught: Norway's Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and his wife Ingrid joined the vast crowed taking part in the rally


Leading Norwegian figures took part in the rose march. Pictured here are, from left to right: Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, his wife Ingrid, Princess Martha Louise, Prince Haakon and his wife Princess Mette-Marit, former prime minister Gro Harlem Brundtland and the chairman of the Labour Youth Movement, Eskil Pedersen


The huge gathering, thought to be the largest solidarity rally in Norway since World War Two, was the result of a Facebook campaign that started up over the weekend.

Prince Haakon urged the huge crowd to work for tolerance and freedom, while Prime Minister Stoltenberg, his voice trembling with emotion, said: 'Evil can kill a human being but never defeat a people.'

He added: 'By taking part you are saying a resounding "yes" to democracy.' He called the Rose March a 'march for democracy, a march for tolerance, a march for unity'.


Support: There were many rallies in Norway today including a 20,000-strong march in Bergen (pictured)



Tragedy: Hearses take victims from Utoya Island following Friday's twin extremist attack


One of the marchers, Jonas Waerstad, 26, said: 'We are a small society and I think that makes everyone feel affected whether directly involved or not.'

A concert formed part of the tribute, with those watching holding flowers aloft in moments of silence and many coming to the front of the crowd and laying down their flowers as a mark of respect.

Earlier in the day, thousands of Norwegians observed a dignified silence to remember the victims of the right-wing fanatic who murdered dozens in bomb and gun terror attacks.

Dressed all in black, Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg led the nation in its solemn vigil, standing on the steps of Oslo university next to a flame.


Leading the nation: Norway's royal family and prime minister stood shoulder to shoulder with their people


Mr Stoltenberg greets members of the public standing in line to sign a book of condolence in Oslo University, which King Harald also signed before taking part in the minute's silence


Untold grief: People pay their respects at a sea of floral tributes to the victims of Friday's attacks, outside the cathedral of Oslo


Spirit of togetherness: Tearful mourners embrace as Norway begins to come to terms with the terror attacks, which claims the lives of dozens of innocent people



Solemn: A couple stand in central Oslo as they observe a minute's silence to pay tribute to victims of the twin attacks


International support: British scouts observe a minute of silence on the Town Square in Copenhagen, in memory of the victims of last Friday's attacks in Norwa


A people in mourning: Thousands observe a minute's silence near the Blue Stone in Bergen


Life savers: Volunteers from the Red Cross and other organisations stand to attention during a one-minute period of silence at noon near Utoya island


Deep sadness: Members of the public lay flowers opposite Utoya Island


Hurt: Relatives gather to observe a minute's silence opposite Utoya Island

source: dailymail