An explosion rocked Norway’s government headquarters in Oslo and killed at least seven people Friday, according to Norwegian state broadcaster NRK. Just hours after the explosion, a gunman dressed in police clothing shot at a summer youth Labour Party camp on the Norwegian Island of Utoya near Oslo and left at least 10 dead and several more injured, according to Norwegian reports.

Unconfirmed reports suggest the death toll from the shooting may be higher.

Norwegian journalist Ketil B. Stensrud tweeted the following:

Eye-witness on Utøya LIVE on NRK just said that he saw 20-30 dead youths floating by the shore. Shocking.

Norway's TV2 showed aerial images of a SWAT team arriving at the island. Images also show youths who swam from the island toward shore. 

As reported earlier on Neon Tommy, police believe the bombing and shooting are connected and arrested a suspect following the shooting. According to Norwegian reports, the suspect is of “Nordic” appearance.

Oslo’s mayor, Fabian Stang, told CNN earlier today that the "the situation is under control, but it's been a terrible day."

U.S. President Barack Obama extended his condolences and condemned the attack.

"It is a reminder that the entire international community has a stake in preventing this kind of terror from occurring," said Obama. "We have to work cooperatively together in both intelligence and in terms of prevention of these kinds of horrible attacks."

Norway’s NATO membership and participation in Afghanistan and Libyan conflicts make the nation a target for terror organizations. In July Muammar Gaddafi threatened attacks on Europe if NATO continues their campaign in Libya.

Last week asylum seeker and the founder of an Iraqi group with ties to Al Qaeda, Mullah Krekar, was indicted in Oslo for threatening Norwegian officials with death if he is deported.

Terror analyst Will McCants posted that Ansar al-Jihad al-Alami, or the Helpers of the Global Jihad, claimed responsibility for the attacks on Shmukh, a Jihad forum. However, according to McCants, the group has now issued a retraction and said the 'Helpers' were not involved but that those responsible "must surely be known to all."

The organization's statements are not unusual. Radical groups have falsely claimed responsibility after major terror attacks.

Friday’s attacks in Norway are being called the worst violence the peaceful country has seen since WWII.

 

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