Explosion at US embassy in Oslo may have been terrorism, Norway police say
Explosion at US embassy in Oslo may have been terrorism, Norway police say
An explosion at the US embassy in Oslo during the early hours of Sunday could indicate a terrorist attack, according to Norwegian police. The blast, which occurred near the city’s diplomatic mission, caused minor damage but did not result in any injuries.
Investigation underway
Authorities have launched an inquiry into the incident, with police officials confirming they are collaborating with US diplomats. “One of the initial theories under consideration is that the blast might be linked to terrorism, though this remains uncertain,” said Frode Larsen, head of the police joint investigation and intelligence unit, in an interview with Norway’s public broadcaster NRK.
“We have to be open to the possibility that there may be other causes behind what has happened,” Larsen emphasized later on Sunday.
Michael Dellemyr, leading the police response, noted that the explosion occurred at the public entrance of the embassy. Search operations were conducted in the Morgedalsvegen district, approximately 7 kilometers (4 miles) beyond the city center. Officers also issued a call for witnesses or anyone with relevant information.
Scene details revealed
Images shared on social media later revealed broken glass scattered in the snow near the embassy’s consular section, cracks in a glass door, and dark stains on the tiled floor. The police initially deployed large resources to the area around the embassy at about 01:00 local time, as stated in an earlier release.
Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide described the event as “unacceptable,” highlighting the importance of securing diplomatic missions. He confirmed contact had been made with Eric Meyer, the US embassy’s chargé d’affaires, regarding the incident.
