US 'bomb' sparks alert in Norway

A wide section of the Norwegian capital's central area was evacuated yesterday and special forces were deployed after a suspected bomb – later found to be a training device – was discovered attached to a US embassy vehicle.

The fake bomb was inadvertently left on the car and triggered a security alert when it went through a routine check in Oslo, officials said.

The police, criticised for reacting too slowly a year ago when Anders Breivik killed 77 people after he detonated a bomb in Oslo and gunned down people on Utoya island, evacuated buildings and shut rail lines.