Four charged in Oslo US embassy bombing as mother denies involvement

Four people—three brothers in their 20s and their mother—have been formally charged in connection with the homemade bomb explosion outside the US embassy in Oslo early Sunday, Dagbladet reports. The mother, a school employee in her 50s, denies any criminal responsibility.

The three brothers, of Iraqi origin, were arrested Wednesday on terrorism charges after the blast at the embassy in the Huseby district. Police confirmed Friday that their mother, who shares their address, has now been charged under the same terrorism statute. Her defense attorney, Aase Karine Sigmond, told Dagbladet the woman was “confused” by the allegations.

“She doesn’t understand why she’s been arrested or why she’s facing such serious charges,” Sigmond said. The attorney confirmed the mother was questioned Thursday but declined to speculate on the evidence against her.

One brother admits placing the bomb
The youngest brother has admitted to positioning the device outside the embassy but has not formally admitted guilt, his attorney Øystein Storrvik told Dagbladet. “My client has explained to police that he placed the bomb at the location,” Storrvik said Wednesday, adding that legal classifications would be addressed later. The brother has consented to pretrial detention.

The middle brother’s attorney, Ketil Magnus Berg, called the allegations “completely unreal” and insisted his client “has nothing to do with this case.” Berg said his client, a “normal young Norwegian man,” was cooperating with authorities but denied involvement.

The eldest brother’s defense team declined to comment on his statements to police, with attorney Jonathan Leifsson de Lange dismissing the prosecution’s case as “pure speculation.”

Police link bombing to Middle East tensions
Authorities have described the bomb as “very powerful” and noted signs of professional welding, suggesting technical expertise beyond amateur construction. Police confirmed multiple items were seized from the family’s residence but would not disclose details.

“At this stage, it’s too early to discuss where the bomb was assembled,” prosecuting attorney Christian Hatlo told Dagbladet, though he acknowledged investigators “have a theory.”

Norwegian police have previously indicated the attack may be connected to escalating tensions in the Middle East, though no direct links to specific groups have been confirmed.