Fake explosive device causes bomb scare at US Embassy in Norway [View all]

[Lars77]

Source: Washington Post

OSLO, Norway — The U.S. Embassy and an area of central Oslo were evacuated on Tuesday when a fake explosive device was mistakenly left beneath a vehicle trying to enter the compound, police said.

The discovery of the device by security guards also led to the evacuation of the royal palace, the halting of subway traffic in the area, and the cancellation of an international children’s soccer game at nearby Voldslokka Stadium so police could use the field for helicopters.

The bomb scare and police search closed the entire area for several hours.

“The Oslo police bomb squad has removed the object and can confirm that it was a dummy bomb,” police said in a statement. “The car has been used for an internal drill at the embassy, and the find can be connected to this.”

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/norwegian-police-us-embassy-in-oslo-and-the-surrounding-area-are-evacuated-due-to-bomb-scare/2012/07/31/gJQAtQRNMX_story.html

---

Yeah, the US embassy is right across the street from the royal palace right in the center of the city. And they can't fucking pay attention to where they keep their dummy bombs they use for practice. The entire city center shut down.

Here are some pics from Norwegian media:

bomb car:


Blocked street about 400m away


The US embassy is 250m up this street. To the left is the entrance to the ministry of foreign affairs.


Royal palace guardsmen securing the palace.


Cops.




I have to admit, it is tempting to speculate if this was done on purpose by the US embassy to check the readiness of the Oslo police.. After all they chose a day in holiday time when there are few people around.


(Also this comes just a week after the embassy was in the news regarding the supression of union labor at the embassy).
Winning hearts and minds