Explosion at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo: "People Ran in a Panic"

There was a massive bang in downtown Oslo this afternoon. Right near the American embassy, a thunderous blast was heard, and shortly after, dark smoke began to rise. People in the area appeared to panic, with many starting to run away from the scene. "It was like a bomb hit; at first I thought it was a joke," says an eyewitness who was on their way home from work.

Police cordon off large areas

The Oslo police responded with a large force and have now cordoned off several blocks around the embassy. They won't comment on the cause yet, but they confirm there has been an explosion. Helicopters are hovering over the city, and you can smell burnt gunpowder all the way out by the Oslofjord. Boats docked nearby witnessed the shockwaves travelling through the water.

Traffic chaos in the Oslofjord Tunnel

As a result of the incident, the Oslofjord Tunnel was closed in both directions for almost an hour. Motorists were stuck in gridlock while emergency services worked around the clock. "I was sitting in the tunnel and didn't hear a thing, but when I came out, the whole sky was grey with smoke," a commuter recounts. The tunnel is now open again, but police are advising people to avoid the area.

• Police have the situation under control, but the cause is still unknown.
• Several nearby schools and daycares were evacuated.
• OsloMet has asked students and staff to stay indoors.

OsloMet on high alert

At OsloMet – the metropolitan university – classes were suspended for a couple of hours. Students were told to stay away from windows and follow instructions from the administration. Naturally, many were uneasy, with rumours circulating that it could be a terrorist attack. So far, nothing suggests that, but police aren't ruling anything out.

– This brings to mind Oslobođenje, but in the worst possible way

As we stand here watching the smoke clear, the word Oslobođenje comes to mind – a term from the Balkans meaning liberation. It's not exactly something we use in daily life here in Oslo, but right now, every bang feels like an attack on our very sense of freedom. "It's like a wake-up call that the safety we take for granted can vanish in a second," says an elderly woman who lives in the neighbourhood.

The incident near the U.S. embassy in Oslo has left a deep impact. Even though there are no reports of injuries or any criminal intent, the mood in the city is heavy. Let's hope this was just an accident, and that the Oslofjord can once again be a place of peace and recreation, not fear. For now, it's about following the authorities' advice and taking care of each other.