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, which occurred overnight, could be a terrorist attack, according to Norwegian police. The building in the capital sustained light damage but no one was hurt. Officials are currently examining the event to determine its cause.

“One of the possible explanations is that it was an act of terrorism, but we haven’t confirmed it yet,” stated Frode Larsen, the director of the police’s joint investigation and intelligence unit, during an interview with Norway’s public broadcaster NRK.

Authorities have been in touch with US diplomats since the incident. A spokesperson for the US State Department confirmed awareness of the event and is conducting an investigation.

“We must remain open to other factors that might explain the explosion,” Larsen emphasized when speaking to NRK later on Sunday.

In an earlier statement, police noted that significant resources were deployed near the US embassy around 01:00 local time (00:00 GMT). “The embassy is under police scrutiny, and no injuries have been reported,” the statement read.

Michael Dellemyr, leading the police response, informed NRK that the blast occurred at the public entrance of the embassy. Officers carried out searches in the Morgedalsvegen district, approximately 7km (4 miles) from Oslo’s city center. Dellemyr also mentioned an appeal for public assistance to gather more information about the incident.

Social media images later revealed broken glass on the snow outside the consular section, cracks in a glass door, and dark stains on the tiled floor. Norwegian officials described the event as “unacceptable” and highlighted the importance of protecting diplomatic facilities.

“The security of our diplomatic missions is a priority,” said Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide. “I have reached out to Eric Meyer, the US embassy’s chargé d’affaires, regarding this incident.”