BREAKING:Terror Alert as Explosion Rocks Central Oslo with Unexploded Devices Still at Scene

Terror Alert as Explosion Rocks Central Oslo with Unexploded Devices Still at Scene
Armed police have sealed off central Oslo after an explosion shook the Norwegian capital on Tuesday evening, with authorities confirming additional unexploded explosives remain at the scene, prompting an emergency alert to residents.
The blast occurred at approximately 8:44 p.m. local time in the Pilestredet area near Parkveien, triggering a massive emergency response as police helicopters circled overhead and firefighters stood ready. Norwegian police issued a rare emergency mobile phone alert to Oslo residents, warning them to stay away from windows as bomb disposal experts worked to secure the area.
“Emergency services are in Pilestredet following an explosion. The situation is unclear and we are working broadly at the scene,” Operations Leader Vidar Pedersen told reporters at a hastily arranged press conference. The police chief confirmed that unexploded ordnance had been discovered at the blast site, necessitating an expanded security cordon.
Witnesses described hearing a “big bang” that shattered the evening calm in the bustling district, which sits approximately 500 metres from both the Royal Palace and the Israeli Embassy. One witness reported seeing a hooded man fleeing the area immediately after the explosion, according to Norwegian broadcaster NRK.
Local media reports suggest police are working on a theory that the explosion was caused by a hand grenade, with a second device discovered nearby. VG newspaper reported that one person had been arrested in connection with the incident, though police have yet to confirm this officially.
The Oslo Fire and Rescue Service dispatched three vehicles to assist police at the scene, according to Watch Commander Arvid Nordstrand at the fire department’s emergency control centre. “We are on site to assist the police,” Nordstrand confirmed, adding that his teams were called to the scene at 8:44 p.m.
Eirik Lie Nordbø, 26, who lives on the third floor of Pilestredet 55, was watching football when the explosion rattled his apartment. “I went to the window and shortly after got instructions from police shouting up to close it,” he told VG. “I find this sickening. But I trust the police have control and oversight of the situation.”
Another witness, Tina Sviggum, a 25-year-old student living in a shared flat in Pilestredet, described the immediate aftermath. “We heard first a bang, a proper boom,” she said. “When we looked out the living room window, we saw a man running from below Pilestredet.”
Sviggum said the man was waving his arms and shouting that there was a grenade in the road. “He stopped the tram and cars coming from above Bislett. One car wanted to continue driving, but the man stood in front and stopped the car again. He wasn’t panicking, more like someone taking control and responsibility.”
A second loud bang was heard at approximately 9:44 p.m., which police later confirmed was a controlled explosion as bomb disposal experts neutralised another device. The discovery of multiple explosive devices has raised serious security concerns in the Norwegian capital.
Hina Momand, 22, a nursing student who was studying at P-32 in Pilestredet when the blast occurred, described the terror of the moment. “I was very frightened. We didn’t know what we were hearing. We stood up immediately and looked out. Then we saw several police cars down the street.”
One motorist who was driving past the scene told VG the explosion caused extensive damage to his vehicle. “The whole side is damaged and the windows on one side are shattered,” he said, describing how the blast occurred just as he passed the building.
Police have established a wide security perimeter around the blast site, with tram services suspended and traffic diverted from the area. Armed officers were visible throughout the district as emergency services worked to ensure no additional devices posed a threat to public safety.
The incident has evoked memories of Norway’s darkest day in modern history, the 2011 terror attacks that killed 77 people when far-right extremist Anders Behring Breivik detonated a car bomb in Oslo’s government quarter before carrying out a mass shooting on Utøya island.
Pilestredet is located in Oslo’s city centre, near several government buildings and educational institutions, including parts of Oslo Metropolitan University. The area would typically be busy on a Tuesday evening, with students, workers and residents frequenting the district’s shops and cafes.
The explosion comes less than 24 hours after reports of mysterious drone sightings near Oslo’s airport and Copenhagen’s airport in Denmark, though authorities have not indicated any connection between the incidents. The drone sightings had already heightened security concerns across Scandinavia.
As of late Tuesday evening, police had not reported any casualties from the explosion, though the extent of property damage remained unclear. Authorities urged residents to avoid the area while investigations continued and bomb disposal experts worked to ensure all devices were safely neutralised.
The Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) has not yet commented on whether the incident is being treated as terrorism. A police spokesman said only that investigations were ongoing and that the situation remained “fluid and unclear.”
Oslo Mayor Anne Lindboe issued a statement urging calm whilst praising the swift response of emergency services. “Our thoughts are with those affected by tonight’s incident. I want to thank our police and emergency services for their professional response to this serious situation.”
The blast site remained sealed off late into Tuesday night as forensic teams began their investigation, with police expected to maintain a significant presence in the area throughout Wednesday. Authorities have asked anyone with information about the explosion or who witnessed suspicious activity in the area to contact police immediately.
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