While people were fleeing the scene of the bomb explosion in Oslo, a youth camp on the island of Utøya was being slaughtered by an unidentified man, dressed in uniform and with a gun. The camp was for young supporters of the Norwegian Labour Party and the BBC has unconfirmed reports that the Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg was supposed to attend the camp today. When the unidentified shooter opened fire, campers fled in fear and many tried to save themselves by jumping into the surrounding water. But an eyewitness has told the Norway national broadcaster NRK that he in the immediate aftermath saw more than 20 bodies around him. “There are very many dead by the shore [...] There are about 20-25 dead,” said Andre Scheie. He also told that he saw bodies in the water and the police are still searching the water for missing people. Most recently, the government of Norway has been able to confirm the death of 85 people on the island of Utøya and an additional 10 in the Oslo bomb explosion, totaling 95 and making it the worse terrorist attack Norway has seen in history.

A man has been arrested after the shooting and it has been confirmed that he is Caucasian. According to Sveinung Sponheim, acting Police Chief, the shooter was spotted in the capital prior to the explosions which suggest a link between the two incidents. He is currently being questioned at a local police station, according to the BBC.

The hospital is still treating victims from the bombing in the capital and the overall number of deaths could rise within the next 24 hours. The two attacks happened with only a few hours in between which strongly suggest some sort of coordination. Whether it was a deranged loner, working on his own, or it was indeed an organised terror attack is still unknown but meanwhile, police fear that there may be explosive on the island.

The attacks have shocked the Scandinavian community which has strict gun control. Prime Minister Stoltenberg told NRK “Co-workers have lost their lives today [...] it’s frightening. That’s not how we want things in our country. But it’s important that we don’t let ourselves be scared. Because the purpose of that kind of violence is to create fear.”

Despite claiming responsibility, the Ansar al-Jihad al-Alami was most likely not behind the bomb attack according to an expert.

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About the author

Claudia Sondergaard
Specialised in American foreign policy media discourse, I have a real passion for media and writing and feel comfortable in subjects such as human rights, politics, environment, social issues, movies, TV and books. Reporting from Denmark. Follow me @swirlgirlversus

2 Comments for 95 Confirmed Dead in The Norway Bombing and Shooting Attacks

Muhaimin

it's that true christians also has the extremist among them…what do they to achieve anyway..sorry to oslo

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Claudia Sondergaard

I agree with you that it was incredibly unfair to just automatically assume that Islamic extremists could be behind it – the discourse in global media is unfortunately influenced too much by an obnoxious fear of Muslims.

However, the world is not black and white like that – people who are staunt atheists can also blurt out ridiculous, narrow-minded things, people are just (stupid) people.

The man who looks responsible for this atrocity seems to have been motivated by his own disdain of the left wing because of their policy. Nothing christian about that (even if he says so). Hatred doesn't require a god.

My hope is that this doesn't whisk up more fear and suspicion – and that Norway can overcome the shock and mourning. My thought are with the victims' families.

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