World Threats

Update: At least 80 were killed at the youth camp, in addition to the 7 killed in the car bombing.

On July 22, Norway experienced its own 9/11. A car bomb went off in Oslo, closely followed by a shooting rampage at a Labor Party youth camp. The death toll is officially at 17, but is expected to rise as more bodies are found and lives are lost from injuries. It is unclear if Islamists were involved in the attacks, but Norway now undoubtedly knows the horrors that terrorism can bring.

Seven people have died so far from the car bombing in Oslo, which shattered most of the windows of the building where the Prime Minister works. Other offices belonging to the government and newspapers were also damaged. It was soon followed by a shooting at a Labor Party youth camp that was attended by 600 people, mostly teenagers as young as 15 years old. As of this writing, 10 have died from the shooting, but eyewitnesses have reported seeing 25 to 30 bodies. The attacker posed as a police officer sent to the camp after the Oslo bombing as an additional security measure. He was shot and arrested. A statement appeared on an online jihadist forum allegedly from the “Helpers of Global Jihad” declaring responsibility, but the group has since denied involvement.

The shooter has been identified as Anders Behring Breivik. He is a Norwegian, and he is described as being “tall, blonde and [of] Nordic looks.” This strongly points to a homegrown terrorist, though the overall plot may have an international component. He describes himself on his Facebook as a conservative Christian, and he has criticized Islam on Internet forums.  He is said to be a nationalist.

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