Police investigate an explosion outside the U.S. Embassy in Oslo : NPR
Norwegian police officers and technicians are present at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, Norway, Sunday, March 8, 2026.
Hans O. Torgersen/AP/NTB Scanpix
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Hans O. Torgersen/AP/NTB Scanpix
OSLO — Norwegian police were investigating an explosion Sunday morning outside the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, the Scandinavian country’s capital, officials said.
No injuries were reported. Police received reports of a “loud bang” or explosion around 1 a.m., Oslo police said in a press release.
The explosion was caused by some sort of incendiary device, according to Frode Larsen, head of the Oslo police’s joint investigation and intelligence unit. Investigators believe the embassy was the target and are looking for the perpetrators and their motives.
Larsen said the embassy entrance was damaged, but no arrests had been made.
“We are early in the investigation, but we are working based on several hypotheses,” Larsen said in a statement. “Given the current security situation, it is natural to question whether this was a targeted attack on the US Embassy. However, we do not commit to any hypothesis.”
Local media reported that people nearby said the street was covered in thick smoke following the explosion. Police are seeking to speak to witnesses.
The PST, the Norwegian police security service, called in additional personnel following the incident, but did not change the level of terrorist threat in the country, according to communications adviser Martin Bernsen.
“This is an unacceptable incident that is being treated with the utmost seriousness,” said Astri Aas-Hansen, Norway’s Minister of Justice and Public Security.
“Police said they are investigating this matter with significant resources and there is no indication the situation poses a danger to the public.”
The U.S. Embassy in Oslo referred media questions to the U.S. State Department, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Neither do the Oslo police. Further details were not available.
