Norway hit by two attacks in Oslo city centre

Norway hit by two attacks in Oslo city centre

Norway hit by two attacks in Oslo city centre - bombings and shooting attacks in the capital of the young people at a youth camp for the Labour Party. At least seven people were killed in the bombing, which resulted in severe damage to government buildings in downtown Oslo. Four more died in the camp on an island outside Oslo, according to local media. A witness later said he had seen more than 20 bodies on the island, but police have not confirmed this.

Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, who among them Oslo office damaged by the bombing, described the situation as "very serious".

Norwegian media reports said the shootings on the island were carried out by a man in police uniform.

Police said the suspected gunman had been arrested, and later said he was also linked with the bomb attack, reports said.

No group has said it carried out the attacks.

Hours after the bomb struck Oslo, officials said some people were still inside the damaged buildings, some of which were on fire.

Television footage from the government quarter showed rubble and glass from shattered windows in the streets and smoke from the fires drifting across the city. The wreckage of at least one car could be seen.

All roads into the city centre have been closed, said national broadcaster NRK, as security officials evacuated people from the area, fearing another blast.

Mr Stoltenberg, in a telephone call to Norwegian television, said all government ministers were safe.

He said he had been advised by police not to reveal his current location, but he is not thought to have been in central Oslo on Friday.

"Even if one is well prepared, it is always rather dramatic when something like this happens," he said.

Egil Vrekke, Assistant Chief Constable of Oslo police told the BBC the rescue operation in Oslo was ongoing.

"We are issuing warnings just [to] make sure people are not in the area in case there are further explosions," he told the BBC.

"We have cordoned off large areas. There are bomb experts at the scene investigating whether there are other devices in the area."

A spokesman for Oslo University hospital said 10 people had been taken there for treatment, some with serious injuries.

A few hours after the explosion, reports emerged of the shooting at a Labour Party youth camp in Utoeya, an island outside the capital.

TV2 said at least four people had been killed and several injured - there were reports the gunman was wearing a police uniform.

"This created a panic situation where people started to swim from the island," said Labour Party spokesman Per Gunnar Dahl.

Mr Stoltenberg, who had been due to visit the camp on Saturday, told TV2 the situation in Utoeya was critical.

more info : BBC

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