European cities went on terror alert after the Norwegian prime minister's office in Oslo was rocked Friday, July 22 by huge bomb explosions and the death toll of the bombing attack rose to seven, with 15 injured. It was followed by an automatic gun attack on the Utoya island youth camp shortly before a visit by Prime Minister Jen Stoltenberg and members of his cabinet. A gunman in police uniform came in a boat and kept on shooting as terrified teens jumped into the water to escape the bullets. Witnesses report 25-30 bodies have been recovered from the atrocity at the camp.


The prime minister said he and members of his cabinet were safe at an undisclosed location on the advice of security forces, who fear they were the object of an assassination attack. Oslo residents were advised to stay indoors as police warned citizens that it was not over and more attacks on their country might still be coming.


The army has taken up positions inside the Norwegian capital. Police have blocked the roads in and out of Oslo and cut off the city's Internet links. Oslo airport remains open but is surrounded by check posts.


The two explosions which devastated Oslo's popular Youngstorget (Young's Square) Friday hit the government buildings housing the prime minister's office near the oil ministry and the offices of at least one national tabloid. In addition to the dead and injured, victims were trapped in the wrecked buildings.


A giant cloud of white smoke rose above a fire at the Oil Ministry. Windows were blown out and around the square cafes and restaurants were extensively damaged. Following the explosion, police cleared the area and searched for any additional explosive devices and examined a wrecked car as possible cause of the explosion.


Investigators believe the explosions were caused by car bombs using fertilizer nitrate.

On Utoya island, police arrested a tall, blonde, Norwegian-speaking man as the suspected gunman after he was shot and wounded. They also found explosives and hand grenades at the youth camp which had been sponsored by the prime minister's Labor party.


Norway is part of the coalition fighting in Afghanistan war and its pilots fly NATO missions against Muammar Qaddafi over Libya. The Afghan Taliban has threatened to avenge the death of Osama bin Laden last may with terrorist attacks outside the country. Muslim extremists may also be punishing Norway for an anti-Muslim cartoon run by a daily last year.However, the Norway attacks bear the al Qaeda hallmarks of precise planning and closely-coordinated multiple attacks.