Blog: Shock-waves in Oslo

Throwing a small stone into a nearby pond today and watching the ripples radiate outwards I reflected on the impact of yesterdays incidents in Oslo. A day when Norway lost part of its innocence.

Yesterday Oslo was the pond and the ripples, waves of shock sent out as the bomb destroyed an area of central Oslo.

With work for the day cancelled Elle and I were nursing hangovers, having returned from the centre after a rare meal out in Oslo and climbed back into bed to cosy up and watch a film.

I can’t remember what came first: the sound or feeling the blast or even if they happened simultaneously, either way we both looked at each other in shock and immediately put our heads out of the window. Our loft apartment gave a good vantage point to see a dirty brown plume rise from Oslo centre.

Shit. We grabbed the camera and started to walk down. There was a sense that this wasn’t the wisest thing to do – what if there as a second bomb?

The police had reacted quickly and had taped off the central area, but the effects of the blast could be seen from everywhere as glass windows had shattered, shop displays lay open, shards covered the streets. Spectator crowds gathered. People who’d been near the initial blast were walking away. Everybody on mobile phones. Everybody clueless on the events.

Fingers immediately pointed to the Middle East but the news reports when back home pointed inwards after horrific attack at the labour camp indicated a connection – not a coincidence.

Enough has been already writen and said about the last twenty-four hours, but the question on everybody’s lips has yet to be answered… Why?