Post date: Jul 22, 2011 3:42:34 PM
A huge explosion wrecks government buildings in central Oslo including Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg's office, injuring several people. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).
NORWAY-BLAST - A huge explosion wrecked government buildings in central Oslo on Friday including Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg's office, injuring several people, a Reuters journalist said from the scene.
The cause of the blast was unknown but the tangled wreckage of a car was outside one building and the damage appeared consistent to witnesses with that from car bombs. Police and fire officials declined comment on the cause.
The blast blew out most windows on the 17-storey building housing Stoltenberg's office, as well as nearby ministries including the oil ministry, which was on fire. Heavy debris littered the streets and smoke rose over the city centre.
A Reuters correspondent counted at least eight injured people. Norwegian news agency NTB said that Stoltenberg was safe.
NATO member Norway has sometimes in the past been threatened by leaders of al Qaeda for its involvement in Afghanistan. However, political violence is virtually unknown in the country.