[Update below about a shooting at a youth camp] "Unreal," writes Twitter user Christian Algnen. "Entire block has exploded! Huge explosion rocks Oslo, Norway!" Officials say two explosions at a government building in Oslo today killed two people, and a local police chief says there are "a lot" of casualties. At this hour, people are still trapped inside the building, and the Norwegian Prime Minister, whose office is in the building, reportedly survived the blast. ABC News reports that at least one of the explosions was caused by a car bomb. Here are harrowing videos of the aftermath:
The blasts blew out the windows of several office buildings on the block just after 3:30 p.m. local time. A local man tells the Times, "Of course, I’m scared, because Norway is such a neutral country." So far no group has taken responsibility for the blast, and a U.S. counter-terrorism official told ABC he "there is no indication yet of motive or suspects."
The Times reports that Norway "has seen little political violence in recent years, the country has a small fighting contingent in Afghanistan and was one of several countries cited by Ayman al-Zawahri, the Al Qaeda leader, as potential targets for attack. In 2006, Norwegian newspapers reprinted Danish cartoons that angered Muslims by lampooning the Prophet Muhammad." For more, the BBC has live updates. [Twitpic and video via The Awl]
UPDATE 12:46 p.m.: There are multiple reports that a gunman dressed in a police uniform opened fire at a ruling Labour party youth meeting on Utoya Island, Norway. According to one report, four people were killed, but nothing has been officially confirmed. Norwegian state broadcaster NRK reports that five people were injured in the shooting, and the French news agency AFP reports that Norwegian police are telling Oslo residents to stay at home.
"It is necessary to avoid big gatherings, to go back home," AFP quotes a police officer as saying. "It is wise to stay at home."
