***Suspect Photo Below***
***UPDATE: Massacre: At least 80 killed at Youth Camp***
***UPDATE: Massacre in Utøya?***
***UPDATE: Alleged Claim?***
The details are very sketchy at this point, but it appears that Oslo is in the midst of a terrorist attack. There was a huge explosion in the heart of downtown, and now there is another report that a gunman dressed as a policeman has opened fire on a children’s summer camp in Utoya.
Here is the report from Fox News:
OSLO, Norway – DEVELOPING: A powerful bomb tore into the heart of Norway on Friday, killing at least two people and injuring 15 as it ripped open buildings including the prime minister’s office. It was the deadliest bombing ever in Oslo, normally associated with the Nobel Peace Prize that is awarded there.
Sky News reports that a man dressed as a policeman and armed with a handgun has attacked a summer camp for children on a nearby island.
Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg was working at home Friday and was unharmed, according to senior adviser Oivind Ostang.
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The blast comes as Norway grapples with a homegrown terror plot linked to al-Qaida. Two suspects are in jail awaiting charges.
Last week, a Norwegian prosecutor filed terror charges against an Iraqi-born cleric for threatening Norwegian politicians with death if he is deported from the Scandinavian country. The indictment centered on statements that Mullah Krekar — the founder of the Kurdish Islamist group Ansar al-Islam — made to various news media, including American network NBC.
Terrorism has also been a concern in neighboring Denmark since an uproar over cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad six years ago. Danish authorities say they have foiled several terror plots linked to the 2005 newspaper cartoons that triggered protests in Muslim countries. Last month, a Danish appeals court on Wednesday sentenced a Somali man to 10 years in prison for breaking into the home of the cartoonist.
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UPDATE (TRS): This is a rough translation of the alleged claim for the Oslo Attacks from Google Translate. First here’s the description via the author:
This was posted by Abu Sulayman al-Nasir to the Arabic jihadi forum, Shmukh, around 10:30am EST (thread 118187). Shmukh is the main forum for Arabic-speaking jihadis who support al-Qaeda.
And here is the translation (pretty sure when it says God it means Allah):
Praise be to God Nasser slaves combined and humiliating the people of shirk and kufr companions, prayer and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad, the Seal of the Prophets, his family and companions and after
The Almighty said: (then fight for God but do not cost yourself and rouse the believers may be that Allah keeps those who disbelieve and Allah is more powerful and in punishment) [women: 84]
Here have reached the countries of Europe is another message from the militants and further proof of the countries of Europe that the Mujahideen will not stand idly towards their war against Islam and Muslims.Today has been targeting Norway to be a lesson and a lesson to the rest of Europe has already threatened us since the invasion of Stockholm more operations has asked European countries to withdraw their armies from the land of Afghanistan and stop its war against Islam and Muslims, and we repeat our warning again to the countries of Europe and tell them carried out the demands of the mujahideen, what you see is only the beginning and the next more.
The reasons for the targeting of Norway there are many of the most important of their participation in the occupation of Afghanistan and the abuse of our Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
Praise God that enabled slaves to the combined .. and pray to God to save our brothers and our fighters everywhere.
Glory and praise God I bear witness that no god but You Astgrk and I repent to you.
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UPDATE (TRS): Very graphic photos of Oslo blast can be seen here.
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UPDATE (TRS): I’m hearing all over twitter that the attack on the children’s youth camp in Utøya is a massacre, maybe 30 dead. Keep in mind that these are unconfirmed reports. I’ll keep you updated as I hear more.
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UPDATE (TRS): The Telegraph is a great resource if you want to keep updated on what’s going on with both Oslo and Utoya. Here is their updated summary:
• Seven dead in bomb blast in Oslo
• Police says at least nine killed in youth camp shooting
• Gunman on island of Utoya ‘dressed as policeman’
• Prime Minister had been due to attend rally there but pulled out
• One man arrested, believed to be connected to both incidents
Click the link for up to the minute reports.
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UPDATE: Apparently the BBC has the latest updating coverage on what’s going on in Oslo and Utoya. Click here to watch.
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UPDATE (TRS): This update saddens me greatly. USA Today is reporting that at least 80 people were killed today in the Utoya Youth Camp:
Police say at least 80 people were killed in a shooting spree at the youth camp of Norway’s Labor Party. Police director Oystein Maeland told reporters early Saturday they had discovered many more victims after initially reporting the death toll at 10. Maeland couldn’t say how many people were injured in the shooting. Hundreds of youth were attending the summer camp organized by the youth wing of Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg’s Labor Party on the island of Utoya. Police also say seven people were killed in an explosion in Oslo.
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UPDATE (TRS): From SkyNews:
A 32-year-old Norwegian suspect has been arrested after at least 87 people were killed in two attacks in Norway. …
The suspect being held in connection with both attacks has been named in Norwegian television reports as Anders Behring Breivik. Police are understood to have searched a flat in west Oslo where the man lived. An anonymous police official said the suspect was arrested in Utoya and appears to have acted alone in the attacks.
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I heard Bolton suggest a few minutes ago that it’s hard to believe that one man accomplished all of this, car bombing and 80 dead at the youth camp. So things may change as more facts unfold.
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