The 2011 domestic terrorist attacks on Oslo and Utoya occurred on July 22, 2011. The coordinated terrorist attacks were orchestrated by far-right extremist Anders Breivik against the Norwegian government, the civilian population and a Workers' Youth League summer camp that killed 77 people.
In this four-hour NVERS Regional Speaker Series Event, Lt. Knut Grini and Lt. Geir Rye of the Norwegian National Police will provide a detailed firsthand account of their responses to the terrorist attacks. Lt. Grini and Rye will provide detailed insight on their initial responses, tactics and strategies, lessons learned, and aftercare of first responders and their families. Lt. Rye, who served as the Tactical Medic on his team, will provide a detailed examination of his actions taken in that role and the important lessons learned from his response. Lt. Rye was part of the initial team that deployed to Utoya Island. Lt. Grini was on vacation in Oslo with his family when the car bomb explosion occurred. He was close enough to feel the blast. After directing his family to safety, he responded to the blast site with what little trauma equipment he kept within his vehicle. As the initial arriving police officer, he immediately began coordinating triage of the dead and wounded.
Lieutenant Rye joined the Norwegian National Police in 2000 after three years at the National Police Academy. After serving in a variety of patrol capacities, he successfully completed the selection process for the Norwegian National Hostage Rescue Team (HRT) based out of Oslo. He then served for almost 10 years as a tactical paramedic. After leaving the HRT, he then spent three years as an Incident Commander in Oslo, before being selected for his current assignment as an instructor and member of the Royal Protection Detail, where he currently serves.
Lieutenant Grini joined the Norwegian National Police in 2002 after three years at the National Police Academy. After working three years in a sheriff's department, he then began working a patrol assignment in Bergen. He would then become a Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) officer and later a SWAT team leader and member of a Close Protection Team for visiting dignitaries. He recently finished one year as an Incident Commander and currently serves as a Lieutenant on patrol, SWAT team leader, and coordinator for large scale national security events.