Norwegian authorities have apprehended three brothers in connection with Sunday’s explosion outside the U.S. embassy in Oslo, revealing new details about the suspected terrorist bombing. The individuals, all Norwegian citizens in their twenties with connections to Iraq, were previously unknown to law enforcement before the incident.
According to police attorney Christian Hatlo, the explosion resulted from an improvised explosive device strategically placed at the embassy entrance. The early morning blast at approximately 02:00 local time caused minor structural damage but fortunately resulted in no casualties. Emergency responders documented shattered glass, damaged doors, and scorch marks at the consular section entrance following the incident.
The investigation has taken multiple directions, with authorities examining potential foreign state involvement and reviewing digital evidence including surveillance footage and a since-deleted Google Maps video featuring Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. This development gains significance given Khamenei’s recent death during joint U.S.-Israeli operations in Tehran last month.
Norwegian officials have deployed extensive resources including canine units, drones, and helicopters in what they classify as a high-priority investigation. Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide condemned the attack as ‘unacceptable,’ emphasizing Norway’s commitment to diplomatic security. The U.S. State Department has concurrently launched its own investigation into the security breach.
The suspects await interrogation as authorities work to determine motivations behind the attack, with terrorism charges already filed against the individuals whose identities remain protected under Norwegian law.