An explosion occurred in front of the entrance to the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, Norway, in the early hours of last Sunday. The blast caused minor damage to the building but resulted in no injuries. Police promptly arrived at the scene, deploying drones and police dogs to pursue suspects. They confirmed no connection has been found to conflicts in the Middle East.
The Oslo Police Department stated the explosion happened around 01:00 local time (approximately 07:00 Thai time) on Sunday, 8 March. The blast site was at one of the entrances of the U.S. Embassy. The explosion caused only minor physical damage, and no injuries or fatalities have been reported.
Michael Dellemyr, Police Chief, told TV2 that the bomb disposal unit has begun examining the area and they have started to gather clues about the cause of the explosion. He said, "It appears to be a deliberate act by an individual," but declined to provide details about the type of bomb or the extent of damage as the investigation is still in its early stages.
Following the incident, Norwegian police elevated the case to high priority, deploying substantial resources including police dogs, drones, and helicopters to search for suspects, who are believed to be more than one person. They declared the area around the embassy a safety zone for the public and passersby after several hours.
Police have requested cooperation from the public to report any observations or unusual activities between 00:00 and 02:00 immediately to authorities.
An eyewitness described the tense moments. A 16-year-old youth near the embassy said he was watching television at home when he heard a loud explosion, initially thinking it happened inside his house. He then saw flashing lights and heavily armed police arriving at the scene.
Meanwhile, three friends waiting for a taxi near the blast site said, "We heard three consecutive loud bangs that made the ground shake." When the taxi passed in front of the embassy, they saw thick smoke covering the area like dense fog.
Although U.S. embassies worldwide, especially in the Middle East, have heightened security due to military operations in Iran and Iranian responses targeting diplomatic sites, Norwegian police affirm there is currently no indication linking the Oslo explosion to these conflicts. They said it is too early to determine the exact cause.
. AFP