Norway Camp Shooting: 'As Many As 30 Dead'

As many as 30 people are feared dead in a shooting at a Norwegian youth camp after a bomb in the capital, Oslo, killed at least seven.

Shots were fired by a man dressed as a police officer at a youth meeting of the ruling Labour Party in Utoya - an island near the capital.

An eyewitness reported seeing between 25 and 30 bodies.

Police have confirmed that nine or ten people were killed, but said that was a preliminary figure which they expected to rise.

They found undetonated explosives on the island after carrying out a search.

Around 600 people were believed to be taking part in the summer camp - most of whom were teenagers aged between 14 and 18.

Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg had been due to attend the event on Saturday.

He said that Norway would gain strength from the attacks.

"We are a small country, but a very proud one," he said.

"Nobody can bomb us to be quiet. Nobody can shoot us to be quiet. Nobody can ever scare us from being Norway."

One Norwegian man was arrested after the incident - he was described as being tall and blond. Sky sources said he was shot and wounded during the arrest.

Police said they suspected the 32-year-old was linked to the bombing in Oslo because of descriptions they had been given.

Emilie Bersaas, 19, was on the island when the shooting started and said that people started running and screaming when they heard the gunfire.

"People are very shaken up as we do not know who is ok and who is not," she said.

"There are a lot of people I do not know anything about.

"It was terrifying - at one point, the shooting was very close to me and hit the building I was in.

"The people in the next room screamed loudly."

The Mayor of Oslo, Fabian Stang, said he would not have believed Norway could be attacked.

He said he wished he could have been on Utoya island: "To stand in front of the young people and ask the gunman to shoot me instead."

Norwegian journalist Kadafi Zanan, who was close to Utoya, said police had sealed off the area and were only letting families onto the island.

Mr Zanan said that people in boats were searching for missing people in the water.

Sky's security editor Sam Kiley said a specialist swat team had arrested the gunman.

"The intelligence community has been expecting that a Mumbai-style attack has been imminent since a year ago," he said.

"The worst-case scenario is not just multiple attacks in one country, but in several countries.

Witnesses said the gunman had a pistol and an automatic weapon.

There was also speculation that he was seen in Oslo just before the earlier bomb attack outside a government building.

Police told people in the Norwegian capital to stay away from the city centre and limit the use of mobile phones.

They also warned them to avoid large gatherings and to stay away from public buildings.

Borders out of Norway were closed within minutes of the attack.

At least seven people were killed in the bombing - with ten seriously injured.

The explosion was outside the building that housed the offices of the Prime Minister, although he was not there at the time.

Mr Stoltenberg said that police had advised him not to give details of where he was when the bomb exploded.

The finance ministry and the offices of Norway's biggest tabloid newspaper were also nearby.

Craig Barnes lives in Oslo and said that he was shocked at what happened.

"It is a very nice, safe place to live," he said.

"Norwegians are very friendly and I think everyone gets on.

"I think this is going to change a lot of views now. There will be questions regarding safety."

Nato member Norway has been the target of threats in the past - particularly for its involvement in Afghanistan and Libya.

The country has also experienced problems with several home-grown terror plots linked to al Qaeda.

Last week, a Norwegian prosecutor filed terror charges against an Iraqi-born cleric for threatening Norwegian politicians with death if he was deported.

Prime Minister, David Cameron, said he was outraged by the attacks.

"I have offered Britain's help, including through our close intelligence cooperation," he said.

"We will work with Norway to hunt the murderers who did this and prevent any more innocent deaths."

US President Barack Obama also offered his condolences.

He visited Oslo in 2009 to receive the Nobel Peace Prize and said he fondly recalled his welcome by the Norwegians.

"Our hearts go out to them and we will provide any support we can," he said.

More to follow ...