UPDATE: A powerful bomb explosion rocked central Oslo shortly before 3.30 on Friday afternoon, causing extensive damage to government offices, killing at least two people and injuring numerous more.
A large yellow cloud of smoke rose from the area seconds after the blast, which shook downtown buildings, and caused widespread panic in the streets. A shockwave made buildings sway and crushed windows all over Oslo.
According to eyewitness reports obtained by Norwegian state broadcast NRK, the entrance to the main government highrise lay in ruins following the blast. The burned-out wreck of a car lay buried by large chunks of concrete, one NRK reporter said.
The offices of VG, Norway’s largest newspaper, also appeared to be severely hit with many employees injured by flying glass.
Shortly after 4 PM, more smoke could be seen and a cloud smelling of explosive gas was hanging over the city. Curtains could be seen flying from broken windows in the main government highrise. Fearing more explosions, police was busy cordoning off a large part of downtown.
According to eyewitnesses, buses were taking injured, bleeding people out of the area. At Ullevål sykehus, Oslo’s main hospital, entire departments were being evacuated to clear space for victims of the blast.
Norwegian news agency NTB reported that prime minister Jens Stoltenberg was in a safe location. Several government ministers were also confirmed safe, with others unaccounted for.
We’ll be following the story.