February 2001 World Headlines

Wednesday, February 7, 2001 - Web posted at 10:25:13 AM GMT

Norway mourns after race murder

OSLO - Funeral services for a black teenager murdered last month in a racist attack that sparked outrage and mass protests across Norway were held yesterday in a suburb of Oslo.

Benjamin Hermansen, 15, born to a Norwegian mother and Ghanaian father, was stabbed to death on January 26 in a car park in Oslo's residential suburbs, dying of multiple stab wounds to the stomach and chest."

"Your death was incredibly awful and diabolical but, in spite of this, your love continues to radiate.

I will love you eternally," said the mother of the victim during the services.

Five suspects, members of a neo-Nazi group called "Boot Boys", were arrested and charged with premeditated murder among other charges.

A sixth suspect arrested in Denmark will soon be extradited to face charges in Norway.

More than 40,000 people packed the streets of Oslo to protest the racist attack while Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg called for a zero-tolerance policy in Norway's fight against neo-Nazi groups, which police say count only about 150 hard-core racists.

- Nampa-Sapa-AFP