Three Brothers Arrested in Connection with Explosion at US Embassy in Oslo
Norwegian police have confirmed the arrest of three men, brothers, in connection with an explosion that struck the gates of the US Embassy in Oslo last Sunday. The three are suspected of involvement in an attack using improvised explosive devices.
Norwegian Police Prosecutor Christian Hatlo stated at a press conference on Wednesday local time that the three suspects are Norwegian citizens in their twenties with family ties to Iraq. One of them is believed to be the individual whose photograph was previously circulated by police.
“They are suspected of committing terrorist bombing,” Hatlo stated firmly. He added that the three men, whose identities have been kept confidential, have no criminal records or prior known history with police.
Security authorities are now investigating various motives behind the attack. One theory being examined is the possible involvement of a foreign state actor. The investigation is focusing on a video uploaded to Google Maps around the time of the incident but which has since been deleted.
Local media reports indicate the video displayed a former supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who died last month in a combined US-Israeli strike in Tehran.
“The most important thing is to conduct interviews with them [the suspects], and then we will see what happens next,” Hatlo said regarding the ongoing interrogation process.
The explosion occurred early Sunday morning around 02:00 local time on Morgedalsvegen Street in the Ullern district of Oslo. Whilst it caused physical damage to glass doors and left scorch marks on the floor area, no casualties were reported from the incident.
Norwegian police have given high priority to the case, deploying tracker dogs, drones, and helicopters to sweep the scene. Photographs circulating on social media show broken glass scattered across snow outside the consular entrance of the embassy.
The Norwegian Government has strongly condemned the act. Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide stressed that such action is unacceptable.
“The security of diplomatic missions is very important to us,” Eide said, emphasising Norway’s commitment to protecting foreign representatives.
Separately, a US State Department spokesperson stated that the United States is also conducting an internal investigation in coordination with local authorities to ensure the security of its personnel and facilities in Oslo.