• Norway attacks draws comparison to Oklahoma bomber

JERUSALEM, July 23, 2011 (AFP) - Israel has sent condolences and offered help to Norway after twin shooting and bombing attacks that killed at least 87 people in Oslo, the defence ministry said.

"Defence Minister Ehud Barak spoke... with government officials in Norway, expressed his condolences over the dead in the attacks and offered Israel's help," a statement from Barak's office said.

"The Norwegians thanked the defence minister for his offer of help and said that at this stage they do not need help," it added.

On Friday, at least seven people were killed when a powerful bomb ripped through central Oslo and another 80 died in a shooting at an island outside the capital, in western Europe's deadliest carnage since the 2004 Madrid bombings.