Evacuations in Beirut Following Fake Bomb Threats to Al Jazeera and Norwegian Embassy

On Thursday, October 17, 2024, multiple buildings in downtown Beirut, including the offices of Al Jazeera TV and the Norwegian Embassy, were evacuated due to threats that were later deemed false. According to a Lebanese security source and a diplomatic source, the threats were identified as fake.

Al Jazeera reported that its office in Beirut was cleared after receiving several warnings, although the source of these warnings was not disclosed. Simultaneously, the Norwegian embassy received a “bomb threat,” leading to the evacuation of its premises in the Lebanese capital.

In an official statement issued by the Norwegian foreign ministry, it was confirmed that the building housing its embassy had been threatened. “We can confirm that the building where the Norwegian embassy in Beirut is located has received a bomb threat today,” the ministry stated in an emailed update.

The ministry reassured that the embassy staff, which comprises only a few Norwegian diplomats currently based in Beirut, were all safe and accounted for following the security incident. The Lebanese security officials continue to monitor the situation closely, ensuring that the affected areas are secure.