Updated on: March 8, 2026 / 1:50 AM EST / CBS/AFP
Norwegian police reported an explosion near the U.S. Embassy in Oslo on Sunday and said there were no casualties. The blast occurred around 1 a.m. local time, police said, and they had no immediate information about its cause or who was responsible.
“A loud bang/explosion was reported at the scene,” Oslo police said. Investigators examined the area with dogs, drones and helicopters and searched “for one or more potential perpetrators,” authorities added.
Public broadcaster NRK quoted police incident commander Michael Dellemyr saying the blast hit the entrance of the embassy’s consular section. “At around 1 a.m. we received several reports of an explosion. We arrived shortly afterward and confirmed that there had been an explosion that hit the US embassy,” he told NRK, adding there was minor damage.
Dellemyr told TV2 police would not comment on specifics about the type of damage or what exploded because it was early in the investigation. He later said police “have an idea of the cause” and that “it appears to us that this is an act carried out by someone.” Investigators were speaking with witnesses, and TV2 reported a bomb squad was at the scene.
Police said they were in contact with the embassy and that a large number of resources were on site. “The police are in dialogue with the embassy and no injuries have been reported,” they said. CBS News has reached out to the State Department for comment.
Residents near the embassy reported hearing a loud blast. A 16-year-old identified as Edvard told TV2 he and his mother initially thought the noise came from their house before seeing flashing lights, many police officers, police dogs, drones, officers with automatic weapons and helicopters overhead.
U.S. embassies have been on high alert in the Middle East amid U.S. military operations in Iran, and some have faced attacks as Tehran has struck back at industrial and diplomatic targets. Police gave no indication the Oslo incident was connected to that conflict.