Police investigate after explosion outside US Embassy in Norway; no injuries were reported

An explosion at one of the doors of the US Embassy in the capital of Norway, Oslo, is being investigated, Norwegian police said on Sunday. There were no casualties or injuries, and there was only minor damage to the building, they said in a statement to CBS News.

The explosion occurred around 01:00 local time, Oslo police said, adding that a “loud noise” was reported at the scene. Investigators were combing the area and dogs, drones and helicopters were also involved in the search for “one or more criminals,” according to police. At the moment they have not identified the suspects, said the police in a press conference.

Frode Larsen, the head of Oslo police’s investigative unit, told reporters at a press conference that it may have been a deliberate attack related to the Middle East crisis, Reuters reported.

“It’s natural to see this in the current security situation and that this could be a deliberate attack on the US embassy,” Larsen said.

Larsen later told public broadcaster NRK that “one of our opinions is that this is terrorism, but we are also looking at other options.”

Police incident commander Michael Dellemyr told NRK that the explosion hit the embassy’s door.

Dellemyr told TV2 of the Oslo police that “he will not comment on anything related to the type of damage, what exploded and similar details, except that there was an explosion” because “it is too early in the investigation.”

The explosion may have been a deliberate attack, Dellemyr told TV2 that investigators “have an idea about the cause,” and that the incident appeared to be “an act by someone.” Police said they were tightening security measures in Oslo and increasing their presence near the US Embassy. They said the police are stepping up security measures to protect the Iranian diaspora and Jewish communities in Norway.

Dellemyr said investigators were talking to witnesses, and TV2 reported that there was a bomb squad at the scene.

The police found that the crime scene and the surrounding area were safe, for the investigators and the residents. They said there were no indications of an ongoing threat.

CBS News has reached out to the State Department for comment.

Residents near the embassy said they heard a loud explosion. A 16-year-old girl named Edvard told TV2 that she was watching TV when she heard that.

“My mother and I first thought it was coming from our house and looked around a bit, but then we saw lights shining outside the window and a lot of police,” he said. “…There were police dogs and drones and police with automatic weapons and helicopters.”

American embassies have been placed on high alert in the Middle East US military activities in Iranand several have come under attack as Tehran retaliates against industrial and diplomatic targets.