Oslo rocked by explosion and shootings, Alston condemns attacks

Alston, NCD, Jul 23 – The Premier has condemned the attacks on Norway’s capital today as “utterly disgusting and a brazen display of cowardice of the purest kind” following the explosion and shootings that have killed at least seventeen people.

At 1:26am NZST this morning (1:26pm GMT, 3:26pm CEST) a bomb ripped through Oslo outside the offices of Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, who was away at the time.

Many buildings lost windows and frontages, and debris litters the streets.

So far it is thought that seven people in the vicinity of the blast have died.

Around two hours after the bombing, a lone gunman opened fire on a youth camp on the nearby island of Utøya, where up to twenty people are thought to have been killed.

The gunman was arrested and it is understood he has links to the city bombing.

It is believed that the attacks were targeted against the ruling Labour Party, who had also been holding the summer camp.

Premier Daniel Anderson gave a statement shortly before 10am this morning:

“We stand beside Norway in this terrible time. There is no excuse for blood to be shed. These attacks are utterly disgusting, a brazen display of cowardice of the purest kind. Norway, know that you do not stand alone, for everyone is with you.”

Today’s attacks have been labelled the “most violent since the Second World War”.