I am a 17 year old girl, and Utøya survivor. I was at the closest 20m away from Anders Behring Breivik. After the shooting started I was on the island for 2 hours and could have died approximately 6 times in those 2 hours. I'm not doing so bad, I have good days and bad days but I'm a live. I just wanted to get things of my chest. I could care less about the karma. I just wanted people to know that what ever happens, there is always a way to get through though things!

And I hope everyone is doing well! : )

My ID: http://imgur.com/f6Lt9 Article : http://www.nettavisen.no/nyheter/article3196838.ece

Edit: Just found out recently it was 8 times, not 6, I could have died..

Comments: 2279 • Responses: 64  • Date: 

RattusNorvegicus907 karma

I, as a fellow Norwegian, just want to say I'm proud of you for doing this and that I hope you are doing well. I think the nation collectively went into shock when it happend. I felt physically sick and in a daze for days after watching it unfold on TV.

I hope you'll continue to be passionate about your causes and politically active. You guys are the future of the nation.

SMT32016592 karma

Thank you.

audun0905609 karma

A friend of mine passed away that day, probably the most kind person i've ever met. Even though I know what happened, curiosity leads me to this question:

Did you know Emil? (Nord Trønderlag). If so, how was he like? Did you see him before he passed away?

SMT320161067 karma

I never got the chance to get to know Emil, but I am from Nord Trøndelag, I did not see much of him during everything but I am aware of that he was murdered not far from me. After all I have heard about him I have come to the conclusion that when he died, Norway and the nation lost a great man.

My condolences.

jkgator11519 karma

You say you saw him twice and heard him once. What was he saying/yelling?

Did you witness any acts of heroism, such as people helping others escape? Or was it basically a giant free-for-all (everybody running to escape wherever they could?)

My sincerest condolences for everything you've experienced.

SMT32016829 karma

He was yelling at one point telling everyone to come out form where they were hiding, (sorry for grammar mistakes), and that he was a police officer her to help us, I did not come forward. This was near the pump house, if you have heard about it, 15 people or so was murdered there.

Where i was laying, there was a girl who was shot 4 times, she survived because of everyone around her was trying to help her, she was laying on top of one person so she would not get cold and there where two or three persons who where compressing her wounds.

kaaredump1182 karma

Hi, my son Espen was killed by 'pumpehuset', big sturdy guy(190cm) did you meet him? (Espen from Bodø)

SMT32016715 karma

I do not believe so, you must remember that we where almost 600 people, there are so many people I wish I had the possibility to meet or get to know them better.

kaaredump866 karma

Just a shot in the dark! Today i can account for most of his movements the last hour of his life, but I'm still looking for details. So when i saw you mentioning 'pumpehuset' I just had to ask...

SMT32016663 karma

I understand.

sortofheathery517 karma

This may be a bit personal, but if you had the opportunity to confront Breivik is there anything you wish you could tell him? Also, thank you to you and your fellow Norwegians for the civil way everyone has responded. It's an attitude I wish more people in my country would emulate.

SMT320161185 karma

That I get why he did it, but I that I think that going after children, I consider my self still a child, is way beyond every other choice he could have chosen to prove his point.

nohiddenmeaning884 karma

This has to be one of the greates statements i ever read. A teenage girl nearly gets killed by a mass murderer and has the composure, wisdom and greatness to think his motivations through and prove his actions to be wrong even in his own fuckedup logic. I think this would get to him more than any insult or appealing to his conscience ever could.

SMT32016730 karma

You, just made my day.

rongermany390 karma

I hate to be the guy that says this but is there anyway you can prove you were there?

And my condolences for everything that happened it must have been horrific....

SMT32016415 karma

I can prove it with a news article, if that is enough? But it is in Norwegian...

http://www.nettavisen.no/nyheter/article3196838.ece

my username; SMT32016, where SMT are the first letters of my name. Silje Melhus Tobiassen

NhcNymo168 karma

A picture of your ID (just blur out the sensitive information) could be proof. Not that I have any doubt, just a lot of redditors tend to take these post a lot less serious when they are without proof.

SMT32016282 karma

how do i do that? (i'm an idiot when it comes to internett -.-')

NhcNymo142 karma

Just take a picture of your identification that got name and image (even tho the image is probably like 5 years old :P) with your phone and post it through imgur.com (the image uploader people use for reddit). If there is any information on the identification you don't want to be on the internett, just draw over it using paint or something! :)

SMT32016277 karma

Oh thanks x]

SMT320161264 karma

[deleted]379 karma

What was your first indication that something was amiss? Did somebody tell you, or did you see him?

Stay strong!

SMT32016648 karma

Well, we had just had a meeting in the main building about what had happened in Oslo when we heard the first shots. And when suddenly people star running up from the pier and was screaming/yelling "run, hide" etc, you understand something is wrong. But I did not understand the gravity of what was going on until right before I was transported away form the island and could really see everything.

alphanovember534 karma

At what point did you realize that Anders wasn't a real cop?

SMT320161624 karma

When I saw him kill a person.

A_german_in_amerika332 karma

I'm sorry that you had to go through that.

Did Anders look insane when you saw him? I know that's morbid but I want to know how he composed himself.

SMT32016640 karma

Well, he did not look insane, just surprisingly calm...

Arve417 karma

I think that's what's insane. From hearing what he's saying now during the trial, he seems to have exactly zero emotions that aren't centered around himself.

SMT32016428 karma

I know, that is the reason this trial is so though on everyone involved.

Arve217 karma

It's tough even for those of us who didn't know any victims, so my deepest sympathy to you. Do you have any thoughts on tomorrow's proceedings, as Lippestad has warned that it will be the hardest day yet?

SMT32016368 karma

That is exactly what it is going to be, the hardest day. That is why i have to go to court.

ssverige243 karma

Dear Silje. Thank you for doing this AMA. I am a member of the swedish equivalence to AUF, SSU. As a fellow member of a socialdemocratic youth league in the neighboring country I can't stop to think about Utöya every time a attend a camp or SSU lecture.

Everything I can think about is that it could have been SSU instead of AUF, Bommersvik instead of Utöya, and me instead of our lost friends. This both scares me and fills me with anger, but all in all makes me want to continue even more.

My question to you is: if you could change anything about how news about the trial and Utöya in general has been, what would you change? I ask this because in my opinion the fact that Breivik targeted socialdemocrats isn't being reported as much.

AUF, vi älskar er!

SMT32016269 karma

Well, I think a lot of the things that hit the front page of the big newspapers are a lot of bullshit, in my opinion it would be better if they cold stick more to the case, and give more and purer info instead of sticking there mics and faces up in ours. Concentrate on the important things.

TrainerDusk243 karma

The media (at least in the UK and USA) keep on bringing up that Breivik played World of Warcraft and that he trained using computer games. What are your thoughts on this?

SMT32016707 karma

That WoW has nothing to do with it, I like MMORPG myself.

TrainerDusk217 karma

I'm glad that you think that. Thanks for doing this AMA. Good luck with becoming a nurse.

SMT32016261 karma

Thank you.

roseappel235 karma

How did you hide? Were you with anybody, or just on your own? Can you try to explain the emotions you had, while he was there?

Fellow scandinavian here, I hope you're you're doing all right despite everything that has happened.

SMT32016338 karma

In the beginning I was hiding alone, until i saw him again, and found out i should hide somewhere else, I found about 8 persons or so to hide with.

[deleted]166 karma

Can you provide more detail than just that you hid, and later you hid with other people? Was it a building, the forest? What was bad about your first hiding spot. Maybe a strange request but I have been trying to wrap my head around what it must have been like since last summer.

SMT32016292 karma

I was in the beginning in the main building, then on the "love path", then in the water next to Bolsjevika, then in the forest above the pumping house.

[deleted]137 karma

Thanks for replying, I'm sorry for what you had to go through.

SMT32016210 karma

You are welcome.

corruptedapple233 karma

How has your life changed since the incident? Do you consider yourself a different person because of this experience?

SMT32016689 karma

Of course did it change me, I've become a stronger human being. It has also made me more confident and more prescient when it comes to believing in what you stand for. I am not a person who is easily knocked down.

NhcNymo194 karma

I was actually gonna make a request for this the other day, turns out I won't have to! :) Btw, I'm from Norway myself!

When you were at the Island and the shooting started, people obviously started calling your phone to check on you right? If so, was that a problem, could it compromise your hiding position? Were you too much in shock to put your phones on silentmode?

SMT32016350 karma

I sort of drowned my phoned, I was hiding in the water and I was thinking that i should make sure that my phone survived that I putt it in my bra (yes, I'm a girl) and the first thing I did when got to the water was lay down flat in the water, and therefor drowning my phone x]

mcfish120 karma

How long did you stay in the water? Did you have to actually keep your head underwater for a long time?

Thanks for doing this by the way.

SMT32016279 karma

I never needed to keep my head under the water because i was hiding behind a tree, but i was in the water for 30-45 min.

fodtp177 karma

What do you think about multiculturalism?

SMT32016534 karma

A good thing, the entire globe is globalizing anyway, why try to fight it?

clburton24169 karma

How has this changed your life? How do you feel about Breivik and how they are choosing to punish him? Do they have capital punishment in Norway? What has helped you move on?

SMT32016478 karma

It has made me realize how precious life is.

I think Breivik is a man that lives by what we Norwegians call the precautionary principle, and that there will never be any way of justify his actions, nor give him a punishment that will be good enough because one does not exist. And death would be to easy.

We do not have capital punishment in Norway, a life sentence her is 21 years, after that there will be a new trial, which determines whether someone released again. He on the other hand will not be released because he will always be a threat to the kingdom.

I have coped with it all by going to a psychologist and "talked it over".

SMT32016292 karma

Oh I forgot, I smoke A LOT, being with friends, being at school (or trying to), and just live my life as normal as posible! ; )

nantesfrance130 karma

Trees or tobacco?

SMT32016342 karma

Tobacco, the other stuff is illegal in Norway and my father was a drug addict that got killed by his own addiction, and I don't want to do the same mistake. I drink though

huzzleduff444 karma

Sorry, I'm going to call you out on the irony.

SMT32016207 karma

I know, it came out a bit wrong. I smoke cigarettes , Prince Rich Taste, to be exact.

Boxford124 karma

KIDS!

Smoke Prince Rich Taste

SMT32016142 karma

I like the taste, I want a pipe, and every other occasion cigars are suiting

Smoochiekins165 karma

Al mulig støtte fra Danmark :)

SMT32016104 karma

Takk ; )

IonZero164 karma

Was there a time that you thought he would find you and/or got near your hiding spot?

SMT32016302 karma

As i posted, he was 20 m away from me when i was hiding. So yes, but he did'nt.

iamjacksprofile173 karma

Did you think you were gonna die? What was your emotional state during all this?

SMT32016508 karma

I never thought I was going to die. I had a defense mechanism saying it was all just a game. Hide and seek, more or less.

Tell-Me-Fun-Facts217 karma

That's interesting - so you felt calm throughout the event?

SMT32016388 karma

Yes

qda175 karma

How long did it take for that to wear off, and for you to reach a new kind of state, perhaps a more emotional one? When you were leaving the island?

SMT32016355 karma

Yes, when I was leaving the island, and it did not go away again until a week after.

[deleted]155 karma

Fellow AUF'er here, i was not on Utøya though. Do you follow the trial, or are you trying to ignore it and just move on? I know that would be hard considering the huge media coverage.. Hope you are ok!

SMT32016240 karma

WOW, a fellow AUF'er here, AWESOME!!

I am following the trial, going there again tomorrow, to Inntrødelag tingrett, since i'm from Trøndelag.

I'm trying to only follow it personally form the court instead of watching it through the new since there are so much the media never gets right...

But i'm alive and well.

Red1123145 karma

Did you go to the edge of the island like most people? When I was watching it I probably would have attempted to swim to the mainland. Did that cross your mind at any point? or was it actually too long of a swim to even attempt?

Also, have you looked at some of the images from that day or do you avoid everything to do with it?

SMT32016309 karma

Well it is at the shortest point form pier to pier almost 1km airline, I have asthma, so for me it was never a possibility because i would have drowned.

Red1123127 karma

When you were in that situation, did your ability to think rationally about what to do next and where to go remain or was it just complete panic taking over?

and thanks for doing this, huge respect for you. Hope you and your friends can recover well.

SMT32016298 karma

I was rational to the point that i kept my safe and took my asthma in consideration in every action i did, i never panicked or anything.

Hansmat136 karma

When I heard the news I was awake for 10 minutes and talking to the kids at our youth camp. That wasn't a great day...

Did you lose people close to yourself, friends or family?

What are your thought about the trial so far?

SMT32016299 karma

I would say I lost two friends, and three more people I knew.

I think the trial is though and painful but we will get through it with our companionship and strength.

Arkaik82 karma

[deleted]

SMT32016325 karma

Don't know, I was not there, and I do not read the newspapers because they are mostly, excuse my language, bullshit.

Islendingen84 karma

In what way do you find the media coverage to be bullshit? Factual errors or the emphasis? Or do you think we're overexposing some aspect?

SMT32016169 karma

I can't quite explain, but if you've ever read a norwegian newspaper you would know what i was talking about.

Islendingen106 karma

I live in Norway, and I read quite a few of them. I agree that the diet and celebrity stuff that usually covers the papers is low, but I'm wondering whether there are spesific things about this case that arr covered in a bad way. How about TV? Have you seen Nrk's coverage? What do you think?

Takk for at du gjør dette forresten. Vi tenker på dere alle sammen, hele tiden.

SMT32016190 karma

I have not seen the case on TV since the judge informs in the beginning for the trial everyday how much is allowed to be filmed. But after experience, the media wants one thing and that is emotions, just to take and example; when he started to cry during the viewing of his film. The media focused so much on it. So I cant say i think its good.

Takk for støtten, og du må vite at det at vi har hele Norges befolkning mer eller mindre som støttespillere betyr mye for meg og andre.

ultimate_zigzag95 karma

Damn Scandinavians, always so happy and shit.

No, but seriously, it's good to hear you're doing well and good luck going forward! :)

SMT3201672 karma

Thank you : )

antiliberal84 karma

I know it must be uncomfortable for you to recall but at any point during the ordeal did you actually see Breivik?

Also, do you think there needs to be a revision of Norwegian law to allow for stricter penalties for crimes as awful as those of Anders Behring Breivik?

SMT32016508 karma

Well, firstly i saw him twice and heard him once.

I do not believe that the penalty for his crime should be any other than for a "normal" murderer, if he got a stricter penalty for what he has done, he would have won. It would mean that he did change Norway, and that is the hole point about the trial, everyone knows he did it, there is enough evidence to get him sentenced immediately, but Norway is a democracy where everyone has the right to a fair trial.

[deleted]208 karma

There are A LOT of people here in Switzerland commenting on online news articles about Breivik, stating that he should be tortured, killed and whatnot. And when I'm telling them what you told us right now, they always say "Imagine your kids or yourself were in that situation" - I answer, that it's important to remain calm, reasonable and not to overthrow humanistic worldviews. You make me believe in humanity a little more, thank you. I'm really impressed. But was it hard, at some point, not to wish him dead or tortured?

SMT32016390 karma

I'm glad I give you a bit hope for humanity.

But for me it was not hard at all not to want him dead, because that would be to easy, and torture is against everything I believe in, so no at that to.

antiliberal38 karma

Thanks for answering. It's good to see that you despite what you experienced you are able to remain calm and reasonable when discussing the events of that day. Good luck in the future.

SMT3201653 karma

Thank you,

l31sh0p82 karma

What actions did you take that saved your life?

SMT32016309 karma

Well, i naturally ran and hid.

suicidemachine79 karma

Are you still in touch with the rest of the survivors? How are they doing now? The Breivik case has just started, and apparently you will all have to tell everything in front of the court again. Will you handle it?

SMT32016138 karma

We are all coping as good as possible and try to keep in touch. I do not have to witness, since the line is drawn to those hit by projectile

havers88 karma

[deleted]

SMT32016124 karma

Yes it is, but there are about 13 people who were not hit by projectile that still was asked to testify.

mcfish76 karma

I don't know much about the AUF but I understand it's a youth organisation with political connections.

Do you plan a life in politics? And has this event changed your plans for your life in any way?

SMT32016241 karma

I do not plan a life in politics, i'm trying to become a nurse. And this event has only made me more confident in my choice.

mcfish74 karma

Good for you, a noble profession. I hope you have a rewarding career!

As a follow-up question if you don't mind, how did you end up in the AUF? Is it kind of like a youth club that many young Norwegians join? Are the youth clubs normally associated with political parties?

I'm from the UK and we have various youth organisations but I don't believe many, or any, of them are associated with any political parties so I don't really understand why young people would be associated with a certain political alignment.

SMT3201691 karma

Sorry if this is bad english, i just used google translate.

ORGANIZATION AUF is the Labour Party's youth organization. We are the largest political party youth organization with over 13,900 members. We have employees in all county clerks and county at our head office located at Youngstorget in Oslo. Throughout the country, we have officers, active members, boards and local chapters.

AUF is managed daily by the central board, and are held several times a year national executive committee meetings and biennial national convention. In these meetings is determined aufs overarching policy and which way to go AUF pointed out.

At the central level, in the county and local branches held lots of events ranging from themed evenings, courses, school visits and summer camp. On these pages you can read more about some of us engaged in the AUF, find contact information for your county, and much more.

Phi0364 karma

Did you see how he got arrested ? How did you know it was safe to come out from your hiding spot. And did you hear any stories afterwards about anyone thinking of tackling him from behind or something like that ?

SMT32016107 karma

No i did not see his arrest but my boyfriend did more or less.

Everyone on the island was thinking about tackling him or something like that.

hollachris45 karma

Can you elaborate on the arrest at all?

SMT32016123 karma

No

Streeb-Greebling55 karma

How did the (Norwegian?) Muslim community react after the attacks? Was there any tension? I hope you're doing well.

SMT32016112 karma

Well, i cant say i know, the entire country was in shock and terror.

Red112356 karma

How often do you come across Norweigans who subscribe to right wing xenophobic ideologies?

SMT32016122 karma

Rarely

havers42 karma

[deleted]

SMT3201664 karma

I'm from trøndelag, so no, not in akerhus.

I did get some of my stuff back, but most of it I had to throw away because it was ruined.

Neo77733338 karma

What do you think about the trial right now? Do you wish him to be dead? I am sorry if the second question is a bit personal, but I am really curious and that's what reddit is about! Thank you for your IAMA and your time! Glad you're still with us!

SMT32016124 karma

I think the trial is going to emotionally rough, which it is, and i do not want him dead. It would be to easy...

iwannabeadoor30 karma

Hey there, glad you're ok.. kinda felt from your comments already that you're a reasonable and calm person (or at least you seem to got over what happened), and IKR that's probably how you norwegians are, but still, how do you feel about how the court treats Breivik (as in, greeting him, allowing him to read his few-pages-long statements etc..)? Do you think it's ok he get's this free publicity for his crazy ideas now?

SMT32016114 karma

The reason why he gets treated so freely is that the court is afraid that if they don't go along on everything, and all his bullshit, he may refuse to testify. But it also lets everyone see how insane he is, and he proves it every day in court,

uchuskies0829 karma

Do you think this guy who is so upset by 'multiculturalism' is mostly alone in his views, or is there a decent segment of the population that would like to keep Norway 'pure'? Not that they would act on it in such an extreme way, rather that they agree with his beliefs.

SMT3201662 karma

I'm not sure, I think a lot of people share his views about their own country...

AngryFidel23 karma

Has this horrible day drawn you closer to your family and friends? Seeing Breivik using his trial as a political podium from which to express his views, how do you feel? My condolences, and thank you for doing this AMA.

SMT3201666 karma

I am closer to friends and family. And I don't know what I feel about Breivik using the trial as a political podium , I just knew he would.

[deleted]21 karma

How has this changed your outlook on humanity and life, I really don't know what to say because something like this is just so horrific. Sorry for what happened to you, I hope the rest of your life is smooth and easy.

SMT3201656 karma

I do not believe it has changed my view much.

stayclassymyfriends18 karma

Has this experience changed your routine at all? As in, are you scared to go out with friends or scared of social interaction (meeting new people, relationships, trust) or something now? Thank you for your answer. My condolences.

SMT3201668 karma

Not rally, I'm just a little afraid of the dark, that's all.

tontyismynameyeh17 karma

If you were given the chance to speak to Breivik, would you? If so, what would you say/ask?

SMT3201651 karma

I would not.