Additional Coverage:
Three Brothers Arrested in Connection with Oslo U.S. Embassy Explosion
Oslo, Norway – Authorities announced Wednesday the arrest of three brothers in connection with an explosion at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo. The incident, which occurred early Wednesday morning, is being investigated as a suspected “terrorist bombing.”
Police prosecutor Christian Hatlo confirmed in a news conference that the arrested individuals are Norwegian citizens of Iraqi origin, all in their 20s. They were taken into custody around 3:30 p.m. local time. Hatlo noted that the men were not previously known to police, and investigators are actively working to determine a motive behind the attack.
“We are still working from several hypotheses. One of them is whether this is an order from a government entity,” Hatlo stated, adding that such a consideration is “quite natural given the target – the U.S. embassy – and the security situation the world is in today.”
The explosion, which took place at one of the embassy’s entrances around 1 a.m. local time, caused minor damage to the building but fortunately resulted in no casualties or injuries. Police believe one of the brothers placed the bomb, with the other two suspected of being “complicit in the act.” Investigators are not ruling out potential links to “criminal networks.”
Following the blast, Oslo police reinforced security measures across the city, particularly around the embassy. Security was also heightened for the Iranian diaspora and Jewish communities in Norway, although officials have indicated there is no lingering threat.
Frode Larsen, head of the Oslo police investigation unit, initially suggested to reporters that the incident might be a deliberate attack connected to the ongoing crisis in the Middle East. He later clarified to public broadcaster NRK that terrorism is one of several motives under investigation.
The Norwegian security service PST, in its annual threat assessment last month, had warned that Iran might utilize “proxy actors,” including “criminal networks,” for such activities.
The incident comes as U.S. embassies worldwide have been on high alert since the war in Iran began, with several facing attacks targeting industrial and diplomatic assets. Representative Rick Crawford, chair of the House Intel Committee, commented on Sunday that he believed the explosion “may have been a terrorist attack,” emphasizing the need for vigilance regarding U.S. assets globally.