Alleged Bomb Threat Evacuates Norwegian Embassy Offices in Beirut

The Norwegian Foreign Ministry announced the evacuation of a building housing its embassy offices in central Beirut today (Thursday) following an alleged bomb threat.

The Norwegian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Ragnhild Haland Simenstad, stated in an email to AFP: “We can confirm that the building housing the Norwegian embassy in Beirut received a bomb threat today.”

A Lebanese security source confirmed that dozens of institutions, including Al Jazeera’s office and the embassies of Norway and Azerbaijan, evacuated the building in central Beirut after its management received three alleged calls from Israel, noting that the origin of these calls could not be verified.

The source told AFP: “Three calls were made to the building’s management, allegedly from Israel, repeating the request to evacuate it.” He added, “As the calls were made through an application, and their origin and seriousness could not be verified, the building housing dozens of offices and companies in central Beirut was evacuated.”

With Israel’s recent campaign escalating against Lebanon, the embassy, which now hosts only a few diplomats, was evacuated. However, the ambassador remains present and continues to meet with Lebanese parties, the latest meeting being yesterday.