NORWAY WAS subjected to what can be called the deadliest attack on its soil since the World War II when a powerful bomb blast near Oslo’s government centre killed seven people. In a separate attack, a gunman opened fire at an island in a summer camp organised for the youth cadre of the ruling Labour Party killing at least 80 people. The person who opened fire at the youth was arrested by the Norwegian police and recovered two licensed weapons in his possession.

The site of the blast in the capital city of Oslo was turned to rubbles and bore a striking resemblance to the cities of Iraq or Afghanistan. One of the buildings, which housed the Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg’s office, too was damaged although he escaped unscathed.

Reporting on the incident in Oslo, the state media, quoting the security personnel stated that so far seven people have been killed and fifteen more have been injured. However, the death toll could rise higher. The local media also reported that the blasts and the shootout looks like an act of domestic terrorism.

The second incident took place when the police was busy cordoning off the terror struck area and a man dressed in police uniform entered the youth camp being held on the island of Utoya, some 19 miles off the mainland. When he was intercepted on suspicious grounds, a witness present there was quoted saying that it was a routine check in connection with the terror attack in Oslo.

Once inside, he reportedly started firing indiscriminately and out of the 80 killed, some were as young as 16-year-olds. The apparently panicked kids jumped into the water and started swimming towards the mainland, which lies at a considerable distance. However, many are in a state of shock and refused to speak thus holding back vital clues.