Norwegian Death Toll at 17

Norway was attacked today. At least two bombs shook Einar Gerhardsen Plaza, transforming placid mid-afternoon Oslo "into a scene reminiscent of terrorist attacks in Beirut or Baghdad or Oklahoma City," said the New York Times. Almost simultaneously, a gunman impersonating a police officer opened fire with an automatic weapon into a crowd of kids on nearby island of Utoya, where there's a Labor Party Summer camp. The Times reports the death toll at 17. A witness claims to have seen twenty to twenty five bodies.

The alledged gunman, described only as a 32-year-old Norwegian man "not known to have any ties to Islamic extremists," has been arrested. Ansar al Jihad al-Alami, or "Helpers of the Global Jihad," claimed credit for masterminding the attacks. It is not known whether the group actually exists, but Ayman al-Zawahri, the late Bin Laden's successor at the helm of al-Qaeda, had repeatedly threatened to inflict harm on Norway for supporting the U.S. led NATO invasion and occupation of Afganistan.

In Oslo, the explosions set one government building ablaze, and blew out virtually every window of another across the street. Buildings as far as 5 blocks distant were damaged. The prime minister of Norway, Jens Stoltenborg, was present but unharmed by the attack.

I think it's fair to say today was the worst day in Norwegian history since April 9th, 1940.

first postscript:

I went back to the Times. The death toll has been raised to 87.  Fuck.

second postscript:

The man arrested in connection to the attacks is allegedly named Anders Behring Breivik, described as blond, blue eyed and probably an ethnic Norwegian, leading to speculations that Right Wing native militants, and not Islamic fundamentalists, were responsible.