An unidentified person has blown himself up after throwing a hand grenade into the U.S. Embassy compound in Montenegro, officials and witnesses say. There was no immediate word on a possible motive.
The incident happened at about 11:55 p.m. local time on Wednesday when two explosions were heard in the area of the embassy, which is located along the Morača river near central Podgorica, the capital and largest city of Montenegro.
A statement from the local government said the suspect was at an intersection when he threw an explosive device, believed to be a hand grenade, “into” the U.S. Embassy compound. It did not say whether the blast caused damage or injuries inside the embassy.
Seconds later, the suspect “committed suicide with an explosive device,” the government added.
There were no immediate reports of other casualties, but the U.S. State Department said it was conducting an internal review to confirm the safety of all its staff members. It added that it was working with local police to identify those responsible.
Footage from the scene show that roads in the area have been cordoned off by police.
“The U.S. Embassy in Podgorica advises U.S. citizens there is an active security situation at the U.S. Embassy in Podgorica. Avoid the Embassy until further notice,” the embassy said in an emergency alert sent to U.S. citizens.
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