The US embassy in Oslo was hit by an explosion in the early hours of Sunday but no one was injured, police in the Norwegian capital said, adding the cause was not immediately known. The blast occurred around 1am local time (0000 GMT) and caused only \u201cminor material damage\u201d to one of the building\u2019s entrances, Oslo police said in a statement. Investigators were examining the scene, while dogs, drones, and helicopters were involved in the search \u201cfor one or more potential perpetrators\u201d, it said. \u201cPolice view such incidents in public spaces as very serious, and are investigating the case with substantial resources and high priority.\u201d Police commander Michael Dellemyr told TV2 police would \u201cnot comment on anything related to the type of damage, what it is that has exploded and similar details, beyond the fact that there has been an explosion\u201d because \u201cit is very early in the investigation\u201d. He later told TV2 that police \u201chave an idea of the cause\u201d, adding: \u201cIt appears to us that this is an act carried out by someone.\u201d He said investigators were talking to witnesses, and TV2 reported that a bomb squad was at the scene. Police said they were in contact with the embassy about the incident, and said several hours after the blast that the area around the building was considered \u201csafe\u201d for residents and passersby. Police urged the public to report any tips or unusual observations from the area between midnight and 2am (2300 GMT and 0100 GMT). Three \u2018bangs\u2019 US embassies have been placed on high alert in the Middle East over American military attacks in Iran and several have faced attacks as Tehran hits back at industrial and diplomatic targets. But Dellemyr said there was no indication as yet that the incident at the embassy in Oslo was connected to the conflict. \u201cWe\u2019re not connecting it to the conflict. It\u2019s far too early for that,\u201d he told TV2. Residents near the embassy described hearing the explosion. A 16-year-old identified only as Edvard told TV2 that he was watching television when he heard the blast. \u201cMy mother and I first thought it came from our house so we looked around a little, but then we saw the flashing lights outside the window and a ton of police,\u201d he said. \u201cThere were police dogs and drones and police with automatic weapons and helicopters in the air,\u201d he said. A group of three friends, meanwhile, told TV2 they were waiting for a taxi near the embassy when the explosion happened. \u201cWe felt three \u2018bangs\u2019 that made the ground shake,\u201d Kristian Wendelborg Einung said. Once in their taxi, they drove past the scene and saw the street in front of the embassy covered in smoke. \u201cWe arrived before the police. The blanket of smoke was very strange. It was like thick fog,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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