[Note: I haven't really quality checked this translation at all, read at your own risk]

The three arrested are Norwegian citizens of Iraqi heritage. The police has not ruled out more arrests in connection with this case. SVT reports that the Swedish police suspect a connection to the "Foxtrot" criminal group.

A young man was arrested outside an Oslo home at 3:21 PM Wednesday afternoon. Crime scene technicians are working outside the same home tonight.

—"The three have been arrested for detonating a bomb with terroristic intentions to kill or cause considerable damage," says police prosecutor Christian Hatlo in a press briefing on Wednesday afternoon.

The arrested men are all brothers in their 20s, Oslo residents with Norwegian citizenship and Iraqi heritage.

—"None of them were known to the police beforehand," Hatlo says.

Norwegian police reported on Thursday that two of the three arrested have testified, and that all three are being considered for a pre-trial detention hearing on Friday.

Confesses to placing bomb

One of the arrested, the 20-year-old youngest brother, has confessed to placing the bomb, according to his defense attorney Øystein Storrvik.

—"He has tied himself to the case and has confessed to placing the bomb, which connects him to the crime scene," he said to TV2.

The arrest happened on Wednesday around 3:30 PM.

—"The brothers have been arrested for 'detonating a bomb with terroristic intentions to kill or cause considerable damage'. But the bomb was placed outside the entrance. What do the arrested say about their charges?"

—"We're only responding to the actual charge, but it would appear that the intention was to damage property and not hurt people, and this is what the accused has said in interrogation," says Storrvik.

Storrvik explains that they have been in interrogation until now.

—"He says that he was alone at the scene and perpetrated the act alone," Storrvik says.

—"Has he stated his motive?"

—"He has, but this is something for the police to disclose at their own discretion," defense attorney Storrvik says.

He says that the 20-year-old will on Thursday accept pretrial detention before the hearing.

—"My client has testified and says that he does not understand the charges against him," Frode Sulland says to VG.

Crime scene technicians worked Wednesday night on an address in Oslo.

It was 1 AM on Sunday when an explosion was heard outside the public entrance to the embassy of the United States in Oslo.

The Norwegian police say that one of the brothers is arrested for placing a bomb outside the embassy's entrance, and the role of the other two in the case is being investigated.

Hatlo says to the Norwegian News Agency that the police have confiscated a number of items, but he is not at liberty to provide any details about this. He will not detail what evidence or reasons led to the arrests.

—"The evidence we have collected has painted a picture over the course of the past three days, which have led to these arrests."

Hypothesis about a state actor

—"The motive behind the attack, other accomplices, and a possible ordering of the attack by a third party are also being investigated," Hatlo says.

It was reported in the press briefiing that the police has not ruled out more arrests in connection with this case.

One of the police's hypotheses being investigated is whether the attack may have been ordered by a state actor.

—"It seems natural based on the current geopolitical situation."

Another theory is a connection to criminal networks, Hatlo says. Swedish public broadcaster SVT reports that the Swedish police suspect that the "Foxtrot" criminal network may be connected to the attack on the US embassy; this is based on intelligence gathered by Swedish authorities which is currently being investigated.

SVT reports that the Foxtrot group posts assassination missions against Israeli interests and critics of the Iranian regime.

—"There is a threat landscape that exists for people in Sweden seen as a threat to the Iranian regime," the Swedish Security Service says. They will not provide details about specific threats.

VG has on Wednesday confronted the Norwegian Police Security Service with this information, but they do not wish to comment on it. VG has also contacted Swedish police, who have not responded to questions.

Open to other motives

Norwegian police remain open to the possibility that the suspects might have completely different motivations, according to Wednesday's press briefing.

—"We have other hypotheses than that this was an ordered attack. It will be interesting to hear what the arrested have to say in interrogation," police prosecutor Hatlo says to VG.

Working with FBI

Hatlo says to VG that the Norwegian police is working with American authorities, including FBI in the investigation.

—"We know that it's the American embassy that was targeted here, and we know that there is insecurity in the world. So it's natural for us to look in that direction."

VG has contacted the FBI but has received no answers from them.

The Norwegian Police Security Service has confirmed to the Norwegian News Agency that they are working with the Oslo Police District on the case of the explosion at the American embassy on Sunday.

—"We are considering immediately whether there is a risk for new attacks in Norway in the wake of the attack on the American embassy," says communications officer Eirik Veum in the Norwegian Police Security Service.

—"Were the arrested known to the Norwegian Police Security Service beforehand?"

—"No comment."

Defense attorney Ketil Magnus Berg is defending one of the three arrested brothers. He has not met his client yet.

—"I do not wish to comment on the role the police thinks my client has. […] I will meet my client this afternoon, so it is too early to say anything about whether my client is guilty," he says to the Norwegian News Agency.

Shook houses

No-one was injured in the attack on the US embassy on Sunday, but Osloites living adjacent to the embassy nonetheless heard the explosion and felt its shockwave as a powerful shake in their homes, setting off house and car alarms. Shortly thereafter, smoke was seen emanating from the embassy, which is located in the Huseby neighborhood in the west end of Oslo.

Police have previously seen the attack as a targeted attack, but they are now looking at the attack as a terrorist incident, a crime that carries up to 21 years' imprisonment, according to section 138 of the Norwegian Penal Code:

Section 138. Terrorist bombing

A penalty of imprisonment for a term not exceeding 21 years shall be applied to any person who sends, places, fires or detonates an explosive charge or other potentially lethal device to, in or against a public place, a state or public facility, a public infrastructure facility or a public transport system with intent to cause loss of human life or considerable harm to body, property or the environment.

[Translation courtesy of Lovdata.no]

The US embassy in Oslo reports to VG that they are in close contact and cooperation with Norwegian partners to stop acts of terrorism.

—"The security of our personell and facilities abroad remains a top priority. We greatly value the quick response from Norwegian authorities in investigating this incident and working to bring the perpetrators to justice," the division for public diplomacy says in an e-mail to VG.