Norway’s foreign ministry and the state police intelligence agency PST have had to get involved in a recent conflict at the Egyptian Embassy in Oslo that escalated into a violent diplomatic incident. Police have limited jurisdiction when conflicts take place on embassy property.
It all began with a demonstration on July 31 by Palestinian activists who don’t think Egypt is doing enough to help deliver humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, most of whom are suffering under Israeli attack and barricades. The demonstrators tried to lock the Egyptian Embassy staff into their own compound, to give them an idea of how Palestinians are confined inside Gaza (which borders on Egypt) without adequate food, water, medicine or other supplies.
State broadcaster NRK reported that when embassy personnel ran out to confront the activists, the incident escalated into an angry exchange, the activists sprayed red paint on them and the lock was broken. Then both sides started fighting and an activist was reportedly dragged into the compound but later released.
“Norway expects foreign ambassadors and diplomats stationed in Norway to follow Norwegian law while they’re here,” a foreign ministry spokesman told NRK, who said Egyptian embassy personnel had been called in for a meeting. The Egyptians blame the activists for assaulting their security personnel, while the activists blame the embassy for assault and even attempted kidnapping. It’s unclear whether the guards have diplomatic immunity. The case is now under investigation by state intelligence service PST.
NewsinEnglish.no staff
