First Europe attack since London 7/7

Group blames Norway role in Afghanistan.

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The terror group,Ansar al-Jihad al-Alami,or the Helpers of the Global Jihad,claimed responsibility for the attacks in Oslo on Friday the first in Europe since the 7/7 attack in London. The message said the attack was a response to Norwegian forces presence in Afghanistan and to unspecified insults to the Prophet Mohammad.

We have warned since the Stockholm raid of more operations, the group said,apparently referring to a bombing in Sweden in December 2010. What you see is only the beginning,and there is more to come. The claim could not be confirmed.

In a separate message posted on the password-protected Shumukh al-Islam forum,a militant,who writes under the name of Abu Suleiman al-Nasser,said the Oslo bombing is another message to Europe from the mujahideen (holy warriors). Al-Nasser has made several threats to European countries participating in the war in Afghanistan,terror monitoring agency SITE said. Another posting by a participant called Emir Grozny said: Threat against the Prime Minister of Norway. You have only moments to withdraw your soldiers from the grave of Khurasan [Afghanistan and if not… you will see blood running in the streets.

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Security experts said Western intelligence agencies will be monitoring militant online discussion forums like Shumukh and the phones and emails of known militant sympathisers and suspects to detect clues to the identity of the perpetrators. They will also be likely to be monitoring right-wing extremists,some said.

Anna Murison of Exclusive Analysis said Norway was not a priority country for jihadists,and any al-Qaeda targeting of Norway would probably be opportunistic,based on media reports which suggest that a Norwegian was behind the shooting at the youth camp.

A threat assessment released in March by the Norwegian police said though support for extremist Islamic terrorism was not widespread,activity in certain communities meant that the threat level would be heightened in 2011. Some extreme Islamists currently appear to be more globally oriented, the report said,and it is primarily this group who could present a direct threat to Norway in the year ahead. The report also added that Norwegian businesses and high-profile figures were likely to be targets.

After the explosions,the city filled with an unfamiliar sense of vulnerability. We heard two loud bangs and then we saw this yellow smoke coming from the government buildings, said Jeppe Bucher,18. There was construction around there,so we thought it was a building being torn down. He added,Of course Im scared,because Norway is such a neutral country.