Explosion at US Embassy in Oslo May Have Been Terrorism, Norway Police Say
An explosion occurred at the US embassy in Oslo early Sunday morning, raising suspicions of a possible act of terrorism, according to Norway’s police. Fortunately, the blast resulted in only minor damage and no reported injuries.
– Investigation Initiated: Frode Larsen, head of the police’s joint investigation and intelligence unit, shared during an interview with Norway’s public broadcaster NRK, “One of the hypotheses is that it is an act of terrorism, but we are not completely locked into it.” Authorities are in active communication with US diplomats as they move forward with the investigation.
– Scene of the Incident: The explosion took place at the public entrance of the embassy, located in the Morgedalsvegen district, roughly 7 kilometers (about 4 miles) from Oslo’s city center. Eyewitness reports describe a scene of shattered glass and burn marks visible outside the building.
– Police Response: At approximately 01:00 local time (00:00 GMT), Norwegian police deployed significant resources to the embassy area. This included searches conducted by police officers and outreach to the public for any information related to the incident. According to Michael Dellemyr, who is overseeing the police response, “the police are in dialogue with the embassy and no injuries have been reported.”
– Visual Damage Noted: Images shared on social media revealed the extent of the damage, showing cracked glass doors and dark marks on the tiled floor of the consular section.
– Government Reaction: Norwegian authorities condemned the incident as “unacceptable.” Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide emphasized the importance of the security of diplomatic missions, indicating that he has been in contact with Eric Meyer, the US embassy’s chargé d’affaires, regarding the matter.
While authorities continue to assess the situation, the potential implications of this incident have created an atmosphere of heightened concern regarding security at diplomatic missions in Oslo and beyond. The investigation is ongoing, and more details are expected in the coming days.