Norwegian police have arrested three brothers in connection with an explosion caused by a homemade device outside the US embassy in Oslo. The blast occurred on March 8 at the entrance of the diplomatic building, causing minor damage but no injuries. Authorities are treating the case as a suspected terrorist offence.
The suspects, Norwegian citizens of Iraqi origin aged between 20 and 29, were arrested in Oslo. According to police prosecutor Christian Hatlo, investigators are working to determine the exact role each of the brothers may have played in the attack.
“We believe that one of them is the person who placed the bomb outside the embassy and that the other two were complicit in the act,” Hatlo said during a press conference.
Police said the device was an improvised explosive placed at the entrance of the embassy and contained powerful explosives. Officials believe that the absence of casualties was largely due to the strict security measures in place at the US diplomatic compound.
Investigators are exploring several possible motives. Hatlo said authorities are examining whether the attack probably could have been ordered by Iran , given the symbolic nature of the target and the tense international security climate “We are still working from several hypotheses,” Hatlo said. “One of them is whether this is an order from a government entity; this is quite natural, given the target and the security situation the world is in today.”
The lawyer representing one of the brothers suggested that the attack may have been linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Authorities are also investigating potential links to organised crime networks. Swedish public broadcaster SVT Nyheter reported that the suspects may have connections to the Foxtrot Network, a Swedish criminal organisation known for drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and involvement in violent crimes across Northern Europe.
The incident comes amid growing concerns about the spread of violence linked to geopolitical tensions. In Toronto, security fears have also increased after a shooting targeted the US consulate on March 10. According to police reports, two men emerged from a white Honda CRV in front of the building early Tuesday and fired what appeared to be a handgun at the front of the consulate before fleeing the scene.
In the same week, several Jewish institutions in Toronto were also targeted. Two synagogues were attacked by gunfire, and several days earlier another synagogue was struck by around twenty gunshots during the Jewish holiday of Purim. While no injuries were reported in these incidents, they have raised alarm among authorities and community leaders about a broader rise in violence.
Theses events highlight growing fears that international conflicts could fuel acts of violence far beyond the regions directly involved, with diplomatic sites and religious institutions increasingly becoming targets.
