Oslo Bomb: 'People Started Running In Panic'

Witnesses have told Sky News about the moment Oslo was rocked by a huge bomb, killing at least seven people.

The device exploded close to buildings which house the offices of Norway's Prime Minister, the finance ministry and the country's biggest tabloid newspaper.

Asgeir Ueland, a freelance journalist working in Oslo, said he was about 500 yards from the buildings when the explosion happened.

"I was just walking home and then I heard the explosion and people started screaming and running in panic," he told Sky News.

"A bit further down the road you could see people rushing from the area of the government building, obviously cut by glass.

"The police and the ambulances arrived about two or three minutes after I heard the explosion."

He added "It happened when people were packing up for the weekend and leaving their offices.

"There were lots of people with blood on their faces and severe cuts."

Craig Barnes, a Brit who works in Oslo, said the blast was "unbelievable".

"I knew it was a bomb. I saw the smoke and I just put my foot down and left the city," he told Sky News.

"It's a city, but it's a small town compared to [cities in] the UK. So you're looking at probably the centre of Blackpool.

"So everyone would've felt it. Everybody in the capital of Oslo would have felt that bomb, or heard it."

He added that Oslo was a "very nice, safe place to live".

"Norwegians are very friendly and I think everyone gets on," Mr Barnes said.

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

Another resident, Christopher Hall, was at home nearby when he heard the explosion.

"I thought it was thunder as it has been raining all day," he said.

"It is the kind of thing you imagine will never happen near where you are."

The bomb was followed by the systematic shooting of more than 80 people on the nearby island of Utoya.

The island was hosting a political gathering of young people, many in their teens.

A man has been arrested and is being held in custody.