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Three brothers detained in Norway after US embassy explosion
Norwegian police have arrested three brothers in their 20s in connection with an improvised explosive device that detonated outside the United States embassy in Oslo early Sunday, authorities confirmed Wednesday.
Device caused minor damage, no injuries reported
The blast occurred around 02:00 local time (01:00 GMT) at the embassy's entrance on Morgedalsvegen Street in the Ullern district. Photos shared on social media showed shattered glass, cracked doors, and scorch marks on the floor, but no one was hurt, police said.
Suspects linked to Iraq, no prior police record
The brothers, all Norwegian citizens with Iraqi ties, are suspected of a terror bombing, according to police attorney Christian Hatlo. None had previously been known to law enforcement. One of the men is believed to be the individual whose image was released by police earlier this week, broadcaster NRK reported.
Motive under investigation, foreign involvement considered
Investigators are exploring multiple theories about the attack's motivation, including potential involvement by a foreign state actor. Hatlo stated that questioning the suspects is the top priority before drawing further conclusions.
A now-deleted video posted on Google Maps around the time of the explosion featured Iran's late former supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a US-Israeli strike on Tehran last month, local media reported. Authorities have not confirmed whether the video is directly linked to the attack.
Extensive search operation deployed
Police used sniffer dogs, drones, and helicopters to secure the scene and treated the investigation as a high-priority case. Emergency services responded immediately after the explosion.
Diplomatic security emphasized by Norwegian officials
Norway's Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide condemned the incident as "unacceptable," underscoring the importance of protecting diplomatic missions. A US State Department spokesperson confirmed that Washington is also investigating the blast.
"The most important thing is to get them [the suspects] questioned, then we'll see what happens," Hatlo told reporters.
Christian Hatlo, Norwegian Police Attorney
