OSLO: Norwegian authorities have arrested three brothers in connection with a powerful explosion that struck the United States Embassy in Oslo over the weekend, an incident police are treating as a suspected terrorist attack.
Police confirmed on Wednesday that the suspects — Norwegian citizens of Iraqi origin in their 20s — were detained in Oslo around 3:30 p.m. local time (1430 GMT).
The arrests follow an investigation into a blast that occurred early Sunday morning outside the embassy’s consular section. According to AFP, the explosion caused minor structural damage to the building but no injuries were reported, officials said.
Speaking at a press briefing, police prosecutor Christian Hatlo said investigators believe one of the brothers planted the explosive device, while the other two may have assisted in the operation.
“We believe that one individual placed the bomb outside the embassy, while the other two were involved in supporting the act,” Hatlo told reporters.
Authorities are still working to determine the exact motive behind the attack and whether the suspects acted independently or on behalf of others.
“We are exploring multiple hypotheses, including the possibility that the act may have been carried out on behalf of a state actor,” Hatlo said. He noted that the target — the U.S. Embassy — and the current global security environment make such a line of inquiry necessary.
At the same time, investigators have not ruled out links to organized criminal networks, according to the prosecutor.
The suspects were not previously known to Norwegian police, and authorities are now working to establish their background, communication records, and any potential connections to extremist or criminal groups.
The incident comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions following recent U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, which have increased security concerns around American diplomatic facilities worldwide.
In its latest annual threat assessment, Norway’s domestic intelligence service, PST, warned that Iran could potentially rely on “proxy actors,” including criminal networks, to carry out attacks abroad.
However, Iran’s ambassador to Norway, Alireza Jahangiri, has rejected any suggestion that Tehran was involved in the Oslo incident.
“It is unacceptable that Iran is being singled out,” Jahangiri told Norwegian newspaper Verdens Gang. The blast occurred at approximately 1:00 a.m. Sunday (0000 GMT) near the entrance to the embassy’s consular services section.
During the investigation, police also examined surveillance footage showing a suspect dressed in dark clothing with a hood and carrying a backpack near the embassy around the time of the explosion.
Authorities are additionally reviewing a video that briefly appeared on the Google Maps page for the U.S. Embassy shortly after the blast.
The clip reportedly showed Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was recently killed during the opening phase of U.S.-Israeli military operations in Iran.
According to Norway’s public broadcaster NRK, the video was accompanied by a message written in Persian reading: “God is great. We are victorious.”
The video has since been removed, but Norwegian police confirmed they have opened a separate investigation into its origin and potential connection to the bombing.
Security measures around diplomatic missions in Norway remain heightened as authorities continue to investigate the case.
