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The great drama here in Oslo started when security guards at the US Embassy spotted a suspicious object fixed underneath a car seeking entry at the embassy premises. Full bomb alarm was sounded, and the Norwegian authorities ordered full evacuation in half a kilometre's radius from the Embassy.
Since the US Embassy lies just shifted slightly to the heart of Oslo this meant, for example, full evacuation of the Royal Palace which is situated just a stone's throw from the Embassy.
Once the bomb squad was in place, they determined that the object was a TRAINING BOMB, i.e, utterly harmless.
The US ambassador was then able to explain that this car had been used in an internal crisis scenario exercise some time ago, and that somebody had forgotten to remove it after the exercise.
One might be paranoid and think that the Americans had deep worries about the efficacy of the Norwegian police forces due to the chaotic responses 22.July last year, and staged this whole thing to give us a test.
I rather choose to believe in American sloppiness, than that Americans have such devious minds.
Anyway, our City Chancellor was NOT amused, and churlishly demands "compensation" from the Americans for the costs placed on the Norwegian public.
Personally, I think he should have been magnanimous and said that humans err, even Americans, and that our police forces showed they were up to handling a crisis of this sort.
The US Embassy sent out the following message to the press:
"
Regarding the security incident at the U.S. Embassy
Earlier today, Embassy security officials identified a suspicious device in an Embassy-owned vehicle and took appropriate precautions. Upon investigation, the device was determined to be a non-threatening training device previously used in an exercise. The Embassy has resumed normal operations.
Embassy security personnel handled this incident in accordance
with standard procedures and alerted local emergency
services. The Embassy regrets the disruptions caused
by this incident. The security of Embassy staff, visitors,
and neighbors requires that we take any potential threat
seriously and respond immediately.
The Embassy would like to express appreciation for the extremely quick and professional response by Norwegian emergency services personnel. "
Since the US Embassy lies just shifted slightly to the heart of Oslo this meant, for example, full evacuation of the Royal Palace which is situated just a stone's throw from the Embassy.
Once the bomb squad was in place, they determined that the object was a TRAINING BOMB, i.e, utterly harmless.
The US ambassador was then able to explain that this car had been used in an internal crisis scenario exercise some time ago, and that somebody had forgotten to remove it after the exercise.
One might be paranoid and think that the Americans had deep worries about the efficacy of the Norwegian police forces due to the chaotic responses 22.July last year, and staged this whole thing to give us a test.
I rather choose to believe in American sloppiness, than that Americans have such devious minds.
Anyway, our City Chancellor was NOT amused, and churlishly demands "compensation" from the Americans for the costs placed on the Norwegian public.
Personally, I think he should have been magnanimous and said that humans err, even Americans, and that our police forces showed they were up to handling a crisis of this sort.
The US Embassy sent out the following message to the press:
"
Regarding the security incident at the U.S. Embassy
Earlier today, Embassy security officials identified a suspicious device in an Embassy-owned vehicle and took appropriate precautions. Upon investigation, the device was determined to be a non-threatening training device previously used in an exercise. The Embassy has resumed normal operations.
Embassy security personnel handled this incident in accordance
with standard procedures and alerted local emergency
services. The Embassy regrets the disruptions caused
by this incident. The security of Embassy staff, visitors,
and neighbors requires that we take any potential threat
seriously and respond immediately.
The Embassy would like to express appreciation for the extremely quick and professional response by Norwegian emergency services personnel. "
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