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Oslo: Bomb blast near Norway prime minister's office Oslo: Bomb blast near Norway prime minister's office
(40 minutes later)
A large bomb blast has hit near government headquarters in the Norwegian capital Oslo, killing at least one person. A large bomb blast has hit government buildings in the Norwegian capital Oslo, killing at least two people and injuring 15 others.
The offices of Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg were damaged extensively - a government spokeswoman said he was safe. Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, whose offices were badly damaged, described the situation as "very serious".
Police said a number of people were injured in the city centre explosion. Officials said some people were still inside the damaged buildings, some of which were on fire.
No-one has said they were behind the attack, which witnesses said could be heard across the capital. No-one has said they were behind the attack.
Television footage from the scene showed rubble and glass from shattered windows in the streets - smoke was rising from some buildings. The wreckage of at least one car was on one street. Television footage from the scene showed rubble and glass from shattered windows in the streets - smoke was rising from some buildings where fires were burning. The wreckage of at least one car was on one street.
All roads into the city centre have been closed, said national broadcaster NRK, and security officials evacuated people from the area, fearing another blast.All roads into the city centre have been closed, said national broadcaster NRK, and security officials evacuated people from the area, fearing another blast.
"Police can confirm there were deaths and injuries following the explosion in the government quarter this afternoon," police said in a statement. Mr Stoltenberg said all government ministers were believed to be safe, Reuters reports.
He said he had been advised by police not to reveal his current location.
Egil Vrekke, Assistant Chief Constable of Oslo police told the BBC: "The latest information we have is that there has been a heavy explosion, quite near the government buildings in Oslo this afternoon and there was extensive damage to the buildings."
"And we can confirm that people are dead and injured," he said.
A spokesman for Oslo University hospital said seven people had been taken there for treatment.
'Busy area'
Government spokesman Hans Kristian Amundsen said Friday was a public holiday in Norway so the offices were not as busy as they might usually have been.
"But there are many hundreds of people in these buildings every day," he told the BBC.
"We have to focus on the rescue operation - there are still people in the building, there are still people in the hospital."
Oistein Mjarum, head of communications for the Norwegian Red Cross, said his offices were close to the site of the explosion.Oistein Mjarum, head of communications for the Norwegian Red Cross, said his offices were close to the site of the explosion.
"There was a massive explosion which could be heard over the capital Oslo," he told the BBC."There was a massive explosion which could be heard over the capital Oslo," he told the BBC.
Government spokeswoman Camilla Ryste told the Associated Press Mr Stoltenberg was safe. Initial reports said he was not hurt.
A spokesman for Oslo University hospital said seven people had been taken there for treatment.
"I don't know how seriously wounded they are," he told Reuters.
'Complete chaos'
Mr Mjarum said there were fires burning in the prime minister's 17-storey building.
"This is a very busy area on Friday afternoon and there was a lot of people in the streets, and many people working in these buildings that are now burning," he said."This is a very busy area on Friday afternoon and there was a lot of people in the streets, and many people working in these buildings that are now burning," he said.
Eyewitness Ole Tommy Pedersen said he was standing at a bus stop about 100m away from the blast.
"I saw three or four injured people being carried out of the building a few minutes later," Mr Pedersen told AP.
He said there was a cloud of smoke billowing from the lower floors.
An NRK journalist, Ingunn Andersen, said the headquarters of tabloid newspaper VG had also been damaged.An NRK journalist, Ingunn Andersen, said the headquarters of tabloid newspaper VG had also been damaged.
"I see that some windows of the VG building and the government headquarters have been broken. Some people covered with blood are lying in the street," AP quoted her as saying."I see that some windows of the VG building and the government headquarters have been broken. Some people covered with blood are lying in the street," AP quoted her as saying.
"It's complete chaos here. The windows are blown out in all the buildings close by.""It's complete chaos here. The windows are blown out in all the buildings close by."
Mr Mjarum said people were in shock in Oslo and across Norway. Local resident Silvio told the BBC the blast shook everything in his apartment.
"I went running out onto the street to see what happened. All the neighbours came running out too."
He said he saw two or three unconscious people being carried on stretchers and others on the floor.
"If they were dead or not I wouldn't be able to tell you but they were receiving assistance at the time."
"The police were clearing the area and there was already various security guards who were going over to attend to the various shops whose glass had been broken out."
Mr Mjarum said people across the Oslo and Norway were in shock.
"We have never had a terrorist attack like this in Norway - if that's what it is - but of course this has been a great fear for all Norwegians when they have seen what has been happening around the world.""We have never had a terrorist attack like this in Norway - if that's what it is - but of course this has been a great fear for all Norwegians when they have seen what has been happening around the world."
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