Authorities in Norway have issued images of an individual believed to be connected to an explosion that occurred outside the United States embassy in Oslo on Sunday. The incident prompted a swift response from law enforcement.
Two heavily pixelated photographs, captured from surveillance cameras, depict a person whose face is obscured, clad in dark attire, and carrying a backpack. These images represent a key piece of evidence in the unfolding investigation.
In a statement released on Monday, police indicated that their initial findings suggest the explosion resulted from an improvised explosive device positioned at the building’s entrance. Fortunately, the detonation caused only minor damage, and no individuals sustained injuries.
Earlier, law enforcement had not ruled out the possibility of terrorism being the motive behind the blast. However, their most recent update confirmed no new developments regarding the attacker’s intentions were available.
Beyond the released photographs, investigators are also scrutinizing a video that surfaced on Google Maps around the time of the incident, according to police reports. This video, subsequently deleted, reportedly featured Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Khamenei was assassinated the previous month during coordinated strikes by the United States and Israel on Tehran.
The Norwegian police have classified the investigation into the embassy blast as a high-priority matter. Their operational response at the explosion site has involved the deployment of detection dogs, drones, and helicopters to conduct a thorough examination of the area.
Authorities are appealing to the public for any information pertinent to the suspect’s identity or any unusual observations in the vicinity between midnight and 2:00 AM local time (1:00 AM GMT) on Sunday. Individuals with relevant details are urged to come forward and contact the police.
Emergency services were first alerted and dispatched to the embassy, located in the western Morgedalsvegen district of Oslo, shortly after 1:00 AM on Sunday.
Following the event, images circulated on social media platforms, revealing shattered glass scattered in the snow outside the consular section’s entrance. The depictions also showed visible cracks on a glass door and dark marks on the tiled floor beneath.
Norwegian officials characterized the incident as “unacceptable.” Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide emphasized the critical importance of diplomatic mission security, stating, “The security of diplomatic missions is very important to us.”
A spokesperson for the US State Department confirmed that the United States is also actively involved in investigating the incident.