Explosion at US embassy in Oslo may have been terrorism, Norway police say
Explosion at US Embassy in Oslo May Have Been Terrorism, Police Indicate
An explosion at the US embassy in Oslo occurred during the night and could potentially be linked to terrorism, according to Norwegian police. The incident, which took place in the early hours of Sunday, caused minor damage to the embassy but left no casualties reported.
Investigation Underway
Authorities have initiated an inquiry into the event, with Frode Larsen, director of the police joint investigation and intelligence unit, stating that one of the possible explanations is terrorism. However, he emphasized that the conclusion is not yet certain.
“One of the hypotheses is that it is an act of terrorism, but we are not completely locked into it,” Larsen told Norway’s public broadcaster NRK.
Michael Dellemyr, leading the police response, noted that the blast occurred at the main entrance of the building. He added that officers conducted searches in the Morgedalsvegen district, approximately 7 kilometers from the city center, following the explosion.
Officials also urged the public to provide any information related to the event, highlighting the need for community assistance in uncovering the cause. Social media images later revealed broken glass, cracked doors, and dark stains on the floor near the embassy’s consular section.
Norwegian authorities described the incident as “unacceptable,” with Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide underscoring the significance of securing diplomatic missions. He mentioned reaching out to US embassy representative Eric Meyer to discuss the event.
A US State Department representative confirmed awareness of the incident and confirmed ongoing investigations. Police deployed substantial resources to the site around midnight local time, as reported in an earlier statement, and maintained communication with embassy staff throughout the day.
Larsen reiterated that multiple causes should be considered, stating, “we have to be open to the possibility that there may be other causes behind what has happened.” The situation remains under close scrutiny as officials work to determine the exact circumstances.
