Norway introduces temporary arming of police patrols in capital

Norway on Tuesday introduced temporary arming of all police patrols in the capital city of Oslo in the wake of the explosions in Brussels that killed at least 34 people.

"This is due to the unresolved situation in Belgium. The decision is also justified for Oslo's special role as the capital with many symbolic targets and several major traffic junctions," acting police chief Roger Andresen told NTB news agency.

The armament is valid until further notice and the police authority has introduced increased patrolling following the terrorist attacks in Brussels on Tuesday morning.

Norway's police intelligence agency PST said the attacks in Brussels have not yet affected the threat level in Norway, but this may change quickly.

"PST gathers and collects all relevant information concerning the events in Belgium, to form a basis for whether this affects the threat level in Norway. We have no information indicating that the threat has changed. But that may change quickly," PST communications director Trond Hugubakken said.

"Norwegian police are already in an elevated emergency situation. Parts of the anti-terrorist plans were implemented after the terrorist attacks in Paris. And these measures are still in force," he said.

Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs Borge Brende condemned the terrorist attacks in Brussels "in the strongest possible terms," according to a statement of the Norwegian government.

"The terrorists' aim was to hurt as many innocent people as possible. For most people, Brussels is equated with peaceful cooperation between European countries. Europe must respond clearly with solidarity in the fight against extremism and terrorism," Brende said.

According to media reports, at least 34 people were killed and about 200 others were injured in explosions at a subway station and the Brussels airport in the Belgian capital.

The Islamic State (IS) has claimed responsibility for the attacks. Endit