OSLO-As the investigation continues, the death toll in the Norwegian city of Oslo has risen much higher. Reports are now coming in of at least 80 killed in the summer camp shooting and seven dead in the explosion that rocked the city center.
Norwegian officials have not released the name of the lone shooter in the case, but the Norwegian broadcasting company, NRK has identified him as blond haired, blue eyed, 32-year old Anders Behring Breivik. He is now in custody.
Police there are convinced gunman acted alone in both incidences. They contend that he first set off the bomb in the city center then traveled the 20 miles to the summer camp to continue his rampage.
21-year old Dana Berzingi stated the fake policeman ordered the campers to close on him then pulled weapons and ammunition from a bag and began shooting. Many of the people shot, pretended to be dead, but the gunman pulled a shotgun and began shooting them in the head.
Authorities are becoming more convinced that the act of terrorism was a home-grown plot but have not ruled out a connection with Islamic groups. Two groups with ties to Al Qaida have claimed responsibility for the carnage thus far.
The Prime Minister, Jens Stoltenberg was scheduled to speak at the camp on Saturday. He was at home when the incidences occurred and was unharmed. He stated to the Norwegian people after, saying, “I have a message to those who attacked us, it is a message from all of Norway. You will not destroy our democracy and our commitment to a better world.”
This attack in Oslo is the worst terror attack in Western Europe since the Madrid Train bombings took place there in 2004 killing 191 people and wounding an additional 1,800.