Police in Norway have stated that an explosion at the United States embassy in the capital, Oslo, overnight—which caused no injuries but minor material damage—may have been an act of terror, although other motives are also under investigation. The incident highlights ongoing security challenges in the region, particularly amid heightened tensions linked to US-led military actions.

Frode Larsen, head of the Oslo police investigation unit, told a news conference on Sunday: "It’s natural to see this in the context of the current security situation and that this could be an attack deliberately targeting the US embassy." He later added in an interview with public broadcaster NRK: "One of our hypotheses is that this is terrorism, but we are also exploring other options. We are not completely stuck on that. We have to be open to the possibility that there may be other causes behind what has happened." This cautious approach reflects the complexities of the investigation.

Witnesses reported that the blast at the embassy compound in western Oslo occurred at 1 a.m. local time (00:00 GMT), blanketing the street in thick smoke near the entrance of the consular section. No suspects have been identified, but police are searching for one or several perpetrators and are cooperating closely with the embassy, Larsen said. The lack of immediate arrests underscores the difficulties in addressing such security breaches.

Norway’s government contacted embassy officials to convey that this was "an unacceptable act that we take very seriously," Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said in a statement. He emphasized: "The security of diplomatic missions is very important to us." The Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) called in additional personnel following the incident but has not changed the country’s terror threat level, according to communication adviser Martin Bernsen, suggesting a measured but concerned response.

Justice and Public Security Minister Astri Aas-Hansen stated: "This is an unacceptable incident that is being treated with the utmost seriousness. The police have stated that they are investigating the case with significant resources, and that nothing indicates the situation poses any danger to the public." Police added that they are working to protect the Jewish community in the country following the incident, which came as US and Israeli forces strike Iran—a conflict that has purportedly engulfed several other nations in the Middle East, raising questions about broader geopolitical instability.

Source: www.aljazeera.com