Norwegian Brothers Arrested Over US Embassy Blast in Oslo, Terrorism Suspected
Police are investigating the site of an incident at the US embassy in Oslo, Norway, over the weekend. Three Norwegian brothers have been arrested on suspicion of a terrorist bombing that caused minor damage but no injuries at the embassy.
The police prosecutor Christian Hatlo stated at a press conference that the brothers, who are Norwegian citizens of Iraqi origin, were arrested in Oslo. Authorities are actively investigating the motive behind the attack, with Hatlo noting, "We are still working from several hypotheses. One of them is whether this is an order from a government entity. This is quite natural given the target – the US embassy – and the security situation the world is in today."
Details of the Arrest and Investigation
Hatlo added that the investigation aims to clarify the exact roles played by the brothers, who are in their 20s and were not previously known to police. "We believe that one of them is the person who placed the bomb outside the embassy and that the other two were complicit in the act," he told reporters. Police are not ruling out potential links to criminal networks as part of their ongoing inquiries.
The blast occurred at approximately 1:00am local time on Sunday at the entrance to the embassy's consular section. This incident comes amid heightened security alerts for American embassies in the Middle East, following US-Israeli strikes on Iran. Several embassies have faced attacks as Tehran responds by targeting industrial and diplomatic facilities.
Broader Security Context and Threats
In its annual threat assessment last month, the Norwegian security service PST highlighted Iran as one of the main threats to Norway. The report suggested that Iran could rely on proxy actors, including criminal networks, to commit acts of violence. This context adds weight to the police's investigation into possible state-ordered motives for the embassy blast.
The arrests underscore ongoing global security challenges, with diplomatic missions increasingly at risk. Police continue to gather evidence and explore all angles, including the potential involvement of external entities or networks. The case remains under active investigation as authorities work to ensure public safety and prevent future incidents.
