Video- Explosions In Norwegian Capital Oslo: Shots Also Fired At Youth Camp

Two explosions today in Oslo at a Norwegian government building, one of which has been confirmed by U.S. sources as being a massive vehicle bomb. Also reports of shots being fired at a youth camp outside Oslo.

Initial reports said there was one dead and at least 8 injured but further reports are claiming their were are more than the one dead, the total will not be known until the building is searched.

NYT:

At the site of the explosion, police evacuated and roped off the area as tension mixed with shaken fascination. People milled around the area, some snapping photos of the destruction. Store windows were blown out for several blocks around.

While Norway has seen little political violence in recent years, the country is a member of NATO alliance and has a small fighting contingent in Afghanistan. It was one of several countries cited by Ayman al-Zawahri, the Al Qaeda leader, as potential targets for attack. In 2006, Norwegian newspapers reprinted Danish cartoons that angered Muslims by lampooning the Prophet Muhammad. Norway has also historically been a frequent participant in peacekeeping missions and a host for diplomatic talks, including the 1993 Oslo Accords between Israel and the Palestinians. The Nobel Peace Prize is awarded by a committee of the Norwegian parliament.

More at ABC, BBC, and Reuters.

CBS- RE: Youth Camp shooting:

Norway - Police say they are sending anti-terror police to a youth camp outside Oslo after reports of a shooting there following the bomb blast at the government headquarters.

The news site VG reported that a man dressed in a police uniform opened fire at the camp. It says several people were injured.

Oslo police chief Anstein Gjengdal said anti-terror units were being sent to the camp at Utoya, outside the Norwegian capital.

Reuters reports that the shots at the youth camp came from a man dressed as a policeman and at least five people were injured.

[Update] BBC is reporting seven dead from the bombings and unconfirmed reports claim 2 dead from the shootings.

[Update] Instapundit reports that "A terror group, Ansar al-Jihad al-Alami (the Helpers of the Global Jihad), issued a statement claiming responsibility for the attack, according to Will McCants, a terrorism analyst at C.N.A., a research institute that studies terrorism. The message said the attack was a response to Norwegian forces’ presence in Afghanistan and to unspecified insults to the Prophet Muhammad.” Turds."

[Latest update] 92 dead between bombing and shooting and gunman has been apprehended.

Will continue to update when more comes out

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Halo Effect Trailer Offers More Beautiful Kayaking Goodness

As another very busy week comes to an end, I thought we'd go out on a high note with the trailer for a kayaking film that is currently making the rounds. The film is called Halo Effect and it follows three paddlers who traveled to Iceland and Norway in search of the best white water they could find. Judging from the video below, they not only found some spectacular rapids to run, they had a heck of a time doing. This video is extremely well done and simply beautiful to watch. Enjoy!

The Green Way Up: From Australia to Norway on Biodiesel

Here's a cool project that was sent my way a few days back. It seems a group of Aussie boys have come up with the idea of driving from Hobart, Australia to Norway using nothing but biodiesel. Now that, in and of itself, sounds like a fun road trip adventure, but not necessarily all that out of the ordinary. But the four travelers don't plan on stopping at a single petrol station along the way.

Dubbed "The Green Way Up," the plan is to get underway in March from the southernmost tip of Australia and the project won't end until they reach the most northerly tip of Norway. Along the way, they'll cross through 30 countries and cover more than 45,000km (27,961 miles), making this the longest car trip on alternative fuels ever.

The aim of the project it to spotlight those alternative fuels and how important they are to the future of our planet. The four men built a special processor that can turn waste oil and animal fat into fuel to power their vehicle, so as they drive they'll be stopping at local places, such as restaurants and pubs, to collect their cooking oil and other products that can then be converted into fuel for the car. They're even building a biodiesel fueled boat to carry them from Darwin to Singapore, stopping off on islands in East Timor, Indonesia and Malaysia along the way.

The entire journey is being made into a documentary film that is expected to be released later this year as well. That film will not only cover the trip, but highlight important sustainable project that are being conducted on he local level along the way. The message is clear  – alternative fuels are important and viable for generating power and we need to find more ways to incorporate them into our lifestyle.

If everything goes according to plan, the journey will begin in just a few weeks time. Follow along with Oscar, Justin, Chuck, and Bob on the expedition's website once they hit the road.

Thanks to Jess for the tip on this one! :)



Green Way Up from Jo Melling on Vimeo.

More Whitewater, Water Fall Dropping Fun

If yesterday's first descents in Costa Rica weren't enough to quench your thirst for whitewater action, check out another entry today. This time it comes to us from Norway, where Matze Brustmann was successful in his attempt at a first descent of the Bruresløret waterfall at the Store Ula.

Both videos come to us courtesy of Canoe & Kayak magazine by the way.



First descent of the Bruresløret waterfall from Pascal Schaffner on Vimeo.