Men with bars, bats attack refugees in Norway

updated 6:27 a.m. ET July 25, 2008

OSLO, Norway - A group of men armed with bats and iron bars attacked a center for political asylum-seekers in southern Norway, leaving more than 20 people injured, the facility’s director said Friday.

Police were investigating the violence late Thursday at the Nordbybraaten center, about 40 miles south of Oslo, but said they have not arrested anyone.

Center director Ole Morten Lyng said between 40 and 50 men were involved in the “planned” attack. He did not know how serious the injuries were.

Norwegian news agency NTB quoted Lyng as saying the attackers were Chechens, but he later told The Associated Press that their nationalities were not clear.

NTB said the center previously has had conflicts between groups of asylum-seekers. The facility houses some 200 people from Iraq, Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, Somalia and Eritrea.

It was the second attack in a week at an asylum center in Norway. On July 18, police said a 16-year-old Somali boy was seriously wounded after several shots were fired at an accommodation center for asylum-seekers in Asker, outside Oslo.

No suspects have been arrested in the shooting, and it wasn’t immediately clear whether the cases were related.

More from msnbc.com Even affluent voters fretting over economy World Blog: Beijing embraces quake teens NBC/WSJ Poll: McCain halves Obama's lead High energy costs cut both ways in Colorado World Blog: Chinese cuisine that goes beyond woks

MORE FROM EUROPE

Europe Section Front

Russians dig in but promise Georgia pullout   Requiem dedicated to South Ossetia Russia halts military cooperation with NATO 13 hurt as bomb targets Turkish cops Owner: Doomed jet experienced overheating Spanish couple misses doomed flight 153 dead in Madrid airport crash Norway: Russia to freeze NATO military ties Missile deal brings Russia rebuke France bans broadcast of TV shows for babies Europe Section Front   Add Europe headlines to your news reader: