OSLO:
Militants staged twin bomb and shooting attacks in the Norwegian capital on Friday, leaving at least 11 dead as a blast tore through government buildings and a gunman opened fire at a youth meeting of the ruling party.
Many were also reported wounded from the bomb blast in central Oslo and the shooting at a summer school meeting of Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg’s ruling Labour Party outside the capital.
Authorities were reeling, with police saying they had no clue who or what was behind the attack, but media reported that the gunman behind the shooting had been arrested.
The United States and Europe immediately denounced the attacks and vowed solidarity with Nato member Norway.
Police said a “bomb” was behind a “powerful explosion” that tore through the government quarter in central Oslo, home to the prime minister’s office, the finance ministry and some of the country’s leading media.
Stoltenberg was safe and there were no reports of other senior government officials being killed or wounded. The government was to hold a crisis meeting later on Friday.
“We can confirm that we have seven dead and two have been seriously injured” in the bomb attack, a police spokesman told reporters at a briefing in Oslo. Several dozen were also wounded, police said.
“We have no main theory, we don’t even have a working theory,” a police official said separately. “We already have enough to do to get an understanding of the situation.”
Images on Norwegian television showed the prime minister’s office and other buildings heavily damaged, sidewalks covered in broken glass and smoke rising from the area.
US President Barack Obama called the attacks “a reminder that the entire international community has a stake in preventing this kind of terror from occurring.”
Published in The Express Tribune, July 23rd, 2011.
COMMENTS (34)
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@saeed: Mr Saeed I am very sad that I also fell in the trap of this blame game. I was misled by a news item saying " A terror group, Ansar al-Jihad al-Alami, or the Helpers of the Global Jihad, has claimed responsibility.” But the truth turned to be different. God willing, some more incidents like this will change the perception of people not only in India but across the world.
@Mind control...its time to really control your minds and to all indians also..read the comments before mine and you will se what indians were trying by saying again and again that where to point fingers.....man dont teach us what we should think and what some one has said or not..now this news and this article has lost its value and attraction to indians, as this does not have any pakistani and islamic connection..other wise i will bet the comments would have reached in hundreads...sore losers .this shows the state of mind you have towards pakistan...a little bit of space and news for propganda you will start bashing every thing..once it is not realted to pakistan you jsut go in to your houses..nothing will come out from your mouth then.
"According to his Facebook page, his religion as Christian and his political idea is conservative. He likes the books like Machiavelli’s 'The Prince' and George Orwell’s '1984.' ..."
@VINOD: At 1:00 PM IST - Indian Terrorist group 'RSS' has claimed responsibility of these attacks and vowed for more attacks alike in condemnation of influencing Western cultural traits in conservative 'Hindu' society ...
The perpetrator was a Norwegian Christian conservative and used to comment on anti-Islam internet websites. So nothing to do with Pakistan here. Those Indians here trying to make conspiracy theories, my reply to you: How dare you spew nonsense without proof ^_^
Sorry about the loss of life. @saeed spot on these troll will do anything to hate on Pakistan. Really pathetic just shows the amount to hate they have for us.
why do indians post under paki, muslim and christian names?
@ Saeed: Not only Indians, Saeed, but a vast number of Americans and Europeans too immediately ascribe these terrible events to Muslims or Pakistanis. After showering the world with blood and devastation for centuries and exploding the only nuclear bomb in history over innocent civilians these false prophets of peace and tranquility now raise fingers at vast number of innocent people blaming them for the evil in the world. In the Second World War just in Russia alone 26 million people died. 26 million, can you imagine that????? Now watch Norway declaring this terrorist as insane or mentally unbalanced who got upset with his wife or did not get his daily supply of milk bottles, or something inane like that.
We surely condemn this cowardly act but we think that it should be a point of understanding for Europe and Western Countries that how people of Pakistan go through such agonies everyday. Please feel and stand with Pakistan.
@saeed: Ha-ha-ha-ha... I too hope that islamic terror has no link with this incident but what an image pakistan has got my friend, think about it !!!
The attacker was a blond Norwegian belonging to Far Right. Thank God Pakistanis catch a break !
Norway was bombing in Libya illegally. Norway shouldn't complain about the bombing.
@Star:Dear all no need to keep guessing " A terror group, Ansar al-Jihad al-Alami, or the Helpers of the Global Jihad, has claimed responsibility." So more restrictions and suspicions against all peace loving Muslims living around the world. Who will lead the Muslims of the world towards peaceful coexistence with others?
First of all let us all condemn this barbaric attack on civilians and children. Obviously the objective was to inflict as much damage and fear as possible. It carries all the signs of a terrorist attack. However, we should wait for all the facts to come out and not react negatively. May God bless all the victims and our prayers for them and their families.
@fahim: Maybe they were trained in Ireland by IRA? let us not jump the guns here!
@Star: My Indian friends keep you fingers in your pockets ... Thankfully it seems it wasn't a reactionary incident but home grown problem.
Our heart felt condolences to bereaved families .. our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Very bad news for all indians who were wishing and praying that a link could be established between this and pakistan and those crying "MUMBAI STYLE ATTACKS" and to people like fahim that this is a slap on your faces...how pity..stop this ill minded aproach towards pakistan..AP has just quoted Norway authorites that the blast and attack is not linked with any islamic terrorisam and it is a norwageion OKLOHAMA not a world trade center..Ander Behring Breivik he is a ethinic norwegian has acted alone on this...It really gives the clear picture of the minds of indians..they feel very happy to see pakistanis get killed and very happy to see any thing bad potraying pakistan..all I can say is that I have not seen an obsession like this in my whole life...again how pity..have a life you cowards..
My heartfelt condolences to all who lost their near and dear ones and my sympathies are with those who are injured and their near and dear one. The religion of peace has struck again. I am ashamed and nothing but ashamed.
Here we go again... no doubt in weeks it will be proved that they were trained in Pak... shameful for us .. how many more proves do we need for our Govt/Military to act?
If in Norway "Political violence is virtually unknown, a country known for awarding the Nobel Peace Prize". So is in Islam, virtually no violence, it is all Peace.
Their PM was the target
Attacks are more probably connected to the Libya attacks and invasion in Afghanistan. Norway is involved in both countries.
Very bad and very sad.
Ah...of course ....Norway has shown willingness to recognize the Palestinian State....this is to pre-empt it.
I do think that this terror attack was conducted by extreme right-wingers to try and turn the country to the right. I believe it was an attempt assassinate the prime minister.
the attacks looks like mumbai style attack.... you know wat i mean...
Here we go again. More nightmares for Muslims living in Europe.