Explosion at US Embassy in Norway Allegedly Related to World Security Situation

ILLUSTRATION UNSPLASH/James Kenny

JAKARTA - The Norwegian police are investigating an explosion that occurred at the US Embassy in Oslo, Sunday morning (8/3), with the alleged motive leading to acts of terrorism related to the current global security situation.

Head of the Joint Investigation and Intelligence Unit Frode Larsen said Norwegian authorities were investigating a number of possible causes of the explosion.

However, according to a report by the Norwegian government-owned media, NorskRikskringkasting(NRK), the explosion is believed to be a deliberate attack on the US Embassy in Oslo.

"One of the hypotheses is that this is a terrorist act, but we have not established it. We have to be open to the possibility that there are other reasons for this. It is natural to look at this event in the context of the current security situation," said Larsen, referring to the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East amid the US-Israeli attack on Iran.

Despite the case of the explosion at the US Embassy, the national threat level in Norway has not changed, the Norwegian security official said.

The Norwegian Police Service's statement said a large number of Norwegian police officers had been deployed to the area around the US Embassy in the Huseby district, west of Oslo, after reports of a loud explosion at around 01.00 local time or 07.00 WIB, Monday.

The police stated that they had communicated with the US Embassy and confirmed that there were no casualties in the incident.

Local authorities later confirmed that the explosion occurred at the embassy building, specifically in front of the consular entrance. However, no significant damage was reported.

According to the local police commander, Michael Dellemyr, the explosion caused minor damage and the authorities will not announce the exact form or cause of the damage because it is still under investigation.

Norwegian authorities are still continuing the search for one or more suspected perpetrators, with investigators conducting crime scene processing and interviewing eyewitnesses.

The local police also ensured that the search around the US Embassy complex was carried out and did not find any other explosive materials in the area.