PM invokes two countries' friendship during second world war and announces review of monitoring of far-right groups in UK
David Cameron has invoked the memory of Britain's friendship with Norway during the second world war when he spoke of how Britain will stand by its old ally.
Speaking at a Downing Street press conference with his Spanish counterpart, Jos� Luis Rodr�guez Zapatero, the prime minister said: "Everyone in Britain shares in the sorrow and the anger at the despicable killing which took place on Friday. Britain and Spain have both been victims of horrific acts of terrorism in the past and I know that both of us will be offering every support that we can to Norway in the days ahead.
"Britain has already provided police assistance and we will continue to offer our expertise and our moral support. Britain and Norway have been good allies and neighbours in very dark days before. We know that the resilience, the courage and the decency of our Norwegian friends will overcome this evil."
The prime minister also confirmed that Britain's national security council, which met this morning, will review whether to step up monitoring of far-right groups. Cameron said: "After such a dreadful event, the British government must of course review our own security at home. That is what the national security council started to do this morning when we met."
Zapatero became Spanish prime minister in March 2004, a few days after the Madrid train bombings that killed 191 people. The attacks in Norway are the most serious terrorist incident in Europe since then.
Zapatero said: "I would like to endorse David Cameron's words and thoughts about what happened in Oslo. I have given my condolences on behalf of all the people of Spain to the Norwegian prime minister for that tragedy, that appalling event. One single person killed so many innocent people. It is one of the biggest tragedies we have witnessed in decades. It is one of the most worrying and serious events we have ever seen take place on European soil."
Cameron's remarks about Britain and Norway's friendship in "very dark days" was a reference to the second world war. Norway has sent a Christmas tree to Britain, which is displayed in Trafalgar Square, every year since 1947 as a sign of its gratitude for British support during the war.
Britain's involvement in the Norwegian we campaign ? allies sent an expeditionary force after the Nazi invasion in April 1940 ? led to the fall of Neville Chamberlain and the appointment of Winston Churchill as prime minister.
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jul/25/norway-attacks-cameron-offers-support
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