Police in Norway investigate an explosion outside the US Embassy in Oslo

Police in Norway investigate an explosion outside the US Embassy in Oslo 1 of 5 | Norwegian Police and technicians attend at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, Norway Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Hans O. Torgersen /NTB Scanpix via AP) 2 of 5 | A view of the damage at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Fredrik Varfjell /NTB Scanpix via AP) 3 of 5 | Frode Larsen, head of the Joint Unit for Investigation and Intelligence, right, and Grete Lien Metlid, head of the Joint Unit for Operational Service giving a briefing to the media in connection with the potential explosion outside the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Fredrik Varfjell/NTB Scanpix via AP) 4 of 5 | Police vehicles outside the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Fredrik Varfjell/NTB Scanpix via AP) 5 of 5 | A view of a shattered door, at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Fredrik Varfjell /NTB Scanpix via AP) 1 of 5 Norwegian Police and technicians attend at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, Norway Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Hans O. Torgersen /NTB Scanpix via AP) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. 2 of 5 A view of the damage at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Fredrik Varfjell /NTB Scanpix via AP) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. 3 of 5 Frode Larsen, head of the Joint Unit for Investigation and Intelligence, right, and Grete Lien Metlid, head of the Joint Unit for Operational Service giving a briefing to the media in connection with the potential explosion outside the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Fredrik Varfjell/NTB Scanpix via AP) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. 4 of 5 Police vehicles outside the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Fredrik Varfjell/NTB Scanpix via AP) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. 5 of 5 A view of a shattered door, at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, Sunday, March 8, 2026. (Fredrik Varfjell /NTB Scanpix via AP) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] Police in Norway were investigating an explosion early Sunday outside the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, the capital of the Scandinavian country, officials said.No injuries were reported. Police received reports of a “loud bang” or explosion around 1 a.m., Oslo police said in a news release.The explosion was caused by some sort of incendiary device, according to Frode Larsen, leader of the Oslo police joint unit for investigation and intelligence. Investigators believe the embassy was the target and are searching for the perpetrators and their motive.Larsen said the embassy’s entrance had damage, but no arrests have been made.“We are early in the investigation, but we are working based on multiple hypotheses,” Larsen said in a statement. “Given the current security situation, it is natural to consider whether this was a targeted attack on the American Embassy. However, we have not committed to any single hypothesis.” Local media reported that people nearby said the street was blanketed in thick smoke following the blast. Police are seeking to talk to witnesses.A U.S. official said the incendiary device was inside a backpack and detonated outside the entrance to the Consular Affairs office at the embassy. The official spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter. PST, the Norwegian Police security service, called in additional personnel following the incident, but hasn’t changed the country’s terror threat level, according to communication 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. “The police have stated that they are investigating the case with significant resources, and that nothing indicates the situation poses any danger to the public.”The U.S. Embassy in Oslo referred media inquiries to the U.S. State Department, which said it was aware of the incident and was opening its own investigation.“We thank the Norwegian authorities for supporting the investigation,” the statement said.___Dazio reported from Berlin and Lee reported from Washington.