BEIJING - China condemned the violent attacks in Norway that have claimed at least 87 lives so far, Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said Saturday.

In a brief statement released by the ministry, Ma also expressed condolences to the victims of the attacks.

Two violent attacks hit the Scandinavian nation on Friday. A bomb exploded in downtown Oslo near government offices, killing seven people and hospitalizing 90 others. Hours later, a gunman dressed in police uniform went on a shooting rampage at the ruling party's youth camp on an island south of Oslo, killing at least 80 people.