July 22, 2011

Sad news~Send Prayers

This is Norway's Prime Minister, Jens Stoltenberg. His offices in Oslo were bombed today. Several people were injured. No, I am not making any political statement or anything. I am half Norwegian, and our family still has a farm a little north of Oslo. I merely want to send prayers to the country and to it's people, and hope others will too.
Mama Carol

Norway horror: 80 die in camp shooting, 7 in blast

By NILS MYKLEBOST, AP

OSLO, Norway A homegrown terrorist set off a deadly explosion in downtown Oslo before heading to a summer camp dressed as a police officer to commit one of the deadliest shooting sprees in history, killing at least 80 people as terrified youths ran and even swam for their lives, police said Friday.
Police initially said about 10 were killed at the forested camp on the island of Utoya, but some survivors said they thought the toll was much higher. Police director Oystein Maeland told reporters early Saturday they had discovered many more victims.
"It's taken time to search the area. What we know now is that we can say that there are at least 80 killed at Utoya," Maeland said. "It goes without saying that this gives dimensions to this incident that are exceptional."
A suspect in the shootings, and the Oslo explosion that killed seven people, was arrested.
A police official said the suspect appears to have acted alone in both attacks, and that "it seems like that this is not linked to any international terrorist organizations at all." The official spoke on condition of anonymity because that information had not been officially released by Norway's police.
The official added, however, "it's still just hours since the incident happened. And the investigation is going on with all available resources."
The motive was unknown, but both attacks were in areas connected to the ruling Labor Party government. The youth camp, about 20 miles (35 kilometers) northwest of Oslo, is organized by the party's youth wing, and the prime minister had been scheduled to speak there Saturday.
 The blast in Oslo, Norway's capital and the city where the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded, left a square covered in twisted metal, shattered glass and documents expelled from surrounding buildings. Most of the windows in the 20-floor high-rise where Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg and his administration work were shattered. Other buildings damaged house government offices and the headquarters of some of Norway's leading newspapers.
Police said the Oslo explosion was caused by "one or more" bombs.
The police official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the Oslo bombing occurred at 3:26 p.m. local time (1:26 p.m. GMT), and the camp shootings began one to two hours later. The official said the gunman used both automatic weapons and handguns, and that there was at least one unexploded device at the youth camp that a police bomb disposal team and military experts were working on disarming.
National police chief Sveinung Sponheim said seven people were killed by the blast in downtown Oslo, four of whom have been identified, and that nine or 10 people were seriously injured.
Sponheim said a man was arrested in the shooting, and the suspect had been observed in Oslo before the explosion there.
Sponheim said the camp shooter "wore a sweater with a police sign on it. I can confirm that he wasn't a police employee and never has been."
Oslo University Hospital said 12 people were admitted for treatment following the Utoya shooting, and 11 people were taken there from the explosion in Oslo. The hospital asked people to donate blood.
Stoltenberg, who was home when the blast occurred and was not harmed, visited injured people at the hospital late Friday. Earlier he decried what he called "a cowardly attack on young innocent civilians."
"I have message to those who attacked us," he said. "It's a message from all of Norway: You will not destroy our democracy and our commitment to a better world."
The United States, European Union, NATO and the U.K., all quickly condemned the bombing, which Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague called "horrific" and NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen deemed a "heinous act."
Nobel Peace Prize Chairman Thorbjorn Jagland said it appeared the camp attack "was intended to hurt young citizens who actively engage in our democratic and political society. But we must not be intimidated. We need to work for freedom and democracy every day."

Associated Press reporters Bjoern H. Amland in Hoenefoss, Norway, Karl Ritter and Louise Nordstrom in Stockholm, Matthew Lee and Rita Foley in Washington, Paisley Dodds in London, and Paul Schemm in Tripoli, Libya, contributed to this report.

14 comments:

Samantha & Mom said...

Sending lots of prayers to Norway!!
Your TX furiends,

Jans Funny Farm said...

I read about these incidents the bombing and shootings - with heavy heart. Praying for all those innocent victims.

Angel MoMo and Charlotte said...

We heard about the incidents and are deeply saddened and sorry for the victims and their families. As a Norwegian Forest Cat, I would like to send my purrs to all those affected and my SS will remember them in her prayers.

The Island Cats said...

We are purring very hard for all those affected by this senseless act.

Unknown said...

We heard about this and were shocked by the tragedy. What is this world coming to?

Milo and Alfie Marshall said...

We are so sad for Norway ~ it's such tragic noos. Our purrs and prayers are going out to all involved.

Meowers from Missouri said...

ja, our mor is half norske, too, an' she haffs cousins there. she is furry distressed at this terrible act. she is attending the facebook event "Steng dørene for morderen på mandag!! Shut the courtroom doors on Monday!" in solidarity wif all of norway. the purpose is to stop the terrorist from spreading his propaganda by testifying in open court and using it as a soapbox. he was intending to be caught for precisely that reason. also some believed if he did have accomplices he might send them coded messages. we don't want him to be remembered, only those who died.

Ikaika said...

We are sending purrs and healing thoughts to Norway. So sad. How can one man have so much hate in his heart?

Karen Jo said...

This was a horrible act and I am so saddened for the people of Norway. I am sending them my prayers. Happy Gotcha Day, Brandi!

Jans Funny Farm said...

Brandi, we came by to wish you a Happy Gotcha Day! Hope you and your mom are doing well.

meowmeowmans said...

We are so sad for Norway, especially the loved ones directly involved. We are purring and praying...

meowmeowmans said...

Brandi, we're not sure where to put this comment, since we didn't want to necessarily include it on your Norway post. But we do hope you have a wonderful gotcha day, and are glad you are our friend.

Donna said...

I am very sorry. :( Sending love.

Ikaika said...

Norway has been much on our minds, Miss Brandi, and all that this terrible incident implies.

On a happier note, Happy Gotcha Day!