Attacks on Government building and youth camp at Utøya

At 15.20 Friday afternoon a bomb exploded outside the Government’s office in the centre of Oslo. Some people were killed and several wounded in the blast.  A few hours later an attack took place at Utøya where the Labour youth movement had its annual summer camp. A man has shot at and killed and injured several participants. The attacker has now been apprehended and is in police custody. The police suspect that there could be a connection between the two incidents.
 
Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Jonas Gahr Støre, commented “Norway has today been victim of a double attack. First a bomb attack on the government offices in the centre of Oslo and secondly on the summer camp of the Labour youth movement. These are horrific and tragic attacks that we condemn in the strongest possible terms”.
 
“Tonight our priority is to help save lives and to care for the wounded and those who have lost their loved ones. Our thoughts and sympathy go out to the families of the victims”, Mr Støre continued.
 
The Government has mobilised all available resources to take part in the search and rescue operation. The police have launched a full scale criminal investigation and the Government will ensure that everything is done to bring the perpetrators to justice.

“We do not know the full extent of this attack, but let me be clear: this is a deliberate attack on the Norwegian Government and the new generation of Norwegian politicians. We will not be intimidated or threatened by these attacks. The aim of such attacks is to spread fear and panic. We will not let that happen,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs Støre.

“Norway has consistently advocated the values of democracy, rule of law, freedom of speech and human rights in our endeavours to overcome extremism and intolerance. The attack in Oslo will not change our politics, values and the way we engage in internationally,” concluded Mr Støre.