UPDATED 2:30 p.m. EDT
Explosions rocked central Oslo on Friday afternoon, killing several and badly damaging one of the main government buildings in the Norway capital including the office of Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg.
Hours later, a man disguised as a police officer opened fire at a youth camp for the youth wing of the ruling Labor Party on the island of Utoya in what officials believe is a related attack.
The bomb blasts resulted in “multiple fatalities” but the prime minister was unhurt, according to a statement by the ministry of justice and police. A huge operation consisting of the fire brigade, ambulance and the police swarmed the scene.
Footage from Norwegian broadcaster NRK showed enormous damage to the targeted buildings as well as blown out windows in nearby shops and another building on fire. Glass splinters and debris covered the streets.
The blast occurred at about 3:20 p.m. local time causing complete chaos in downtown Oslo.
“This is a very serious situation, and my thoughts at this time go to all who have been affected,” Prime Minister Stoltenberg said in a statement. “My thoughts at this time go to all who have been affected. All expertise and resources have been brought in to gain control of the situation.”
Christian People’s Party Representative Geir Bekkevold called the attack the most dramatic event since World War II, speaking to reporters as he was evacuated from his office in the central government building.
The offices of VG, Norway’s largest newspaper were also severely damaged prompting the newspaper to run an oversized headline online reading, “We’re Under Attack!” and another reading, “Ministries Are Like a War Zone.”
The daily Aftenposten similarly posted a statement on its website saying its staff was on the move after they had to evaluate their downtown offices.
So far no group has claimed responsibility for the attack, but as terrorist specialist Tore Bjorg told national television station NRK, such an incident could only be the work of terrorists.
Police have asked people to stay away from the downtown core and to limit their use of cell phones as bomb squads check other government buildings for possible explosives.
Bjorn Erik Sem-Jacobsen with the regional police in Northern Buskerud told NRK that one arrest had been made in the Utoya shooting, but that officials believe there is more than one perpetrator.
About 550 youths attend the camp, which Prime Minister Stoltenberg was scheduled to visit on Saturday. The island is located about 45 minutes from Oslo by public transportation.
The Labor Party’s Facebook page has asked people not to call their friends or family on the island because the sound of the ring will expose their location to the attackers. NRK reported that some youths have tried to flee by swimming off the island.
A Facebook event page, which translates as “Oslo is in good condition,” was set up to help people let friends and family know they are safe. Those who are unhurt are marking themselves as “attending” the event.
People are using the page in large numbers. As of Saturday night, more than 40,000 people had joined the group.
