An explosion rocked the US embassy in Oslo, Norway, in the early hours of Sunday, causing “minor material damage”, according to local police.
The blast comes amid heightened tension across US embassies and consulates around the world following the escalating hostilities between the United States/Israel, and Iran.
Multiple US diplomatic buildings in Gulf kingdoms that host American troops have been targeted by Iranian retaliatory strikes, including in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.
In a statement addressing the blast, Oslo police said the cause was not yet immediately known.
The blast was said to have occurred around 1am local time, affecting the entry to the compound’s consular section.
The police said investigators were examining the scene, with assets deployed to the search “for one or more potential perpetrators”.
“Police view such incidents in public spaces as very serious, and are investigating the case with substantial resources and high priority,” the statement said.
Michael Dellemyr, the police commander, told local TV stations that they would “not comment on anything related to the type of damage, what it is that has exploded and similar details, beyond the fact that there has been an explosion”.
He said, although it was still early in the investigation, the police “have an idea of the cause” of the explosion, adding that it may have been “carried out by someone”.
He said investigators were talking to witnesses to gather more intel on the situation.
