Plan To Behead Israeli Envoy Foiled
Norwegian authorities say terrorists had planned to bomb US and Israeli embassies

Four men suspected in connection with an attack on an Oslo synagogue are also accused of plotting to blow up the US and Israeli embassies, and killing Israel's ambassador, media reports said Friday.

The four were arrested Tuesday in connection with an attack on the Mosaic Religious Community synagogue. The Jewish house of worship was hit with at least 10 bullets early Sunday. No one was injured.

Police said Thursday that charges against them were being expanded to include plotting terrorism but gave no other details. They were seeking a court order Friday to continue holding the men for questioning.

Defense attorney Vegard Aaloekken confirmed to the state radio network NRK that the new charges include allegations of a terror plot against embassies.

The charges were in part based on recordings from an electronic bug in one suspect's car, NRK and other major Norwegian news media said.

NRK and other major Norwegian news media said the suspects discussed blowing up the embassies and decapitating the Israeli ambassador to Norway, Miriam Shomrat.

"There is something about gathering weapons and that buildings were to be blown up," he told NRK, refusing to say more.

"We are deeply concerned about the emerging information on these planned terrorist attacks in Norway," US Ambassador Ben K. Whitney said in a statement. "We are watching developments closely."

Police have been tightlipped about the investigation and refused to disclose names and personal details about the four suspects, other than saying they all are in their 20s.

One of the suspects, a 29-year-old Norwegian of Pakistani descent, was briefly held in Germany in June on suspicion of planning an act of terrorism against the soccer World Cup.

He was released without charges. He also was charged last week with firing gunshots at the home of a Norwegian journalist in Oslo earlier this year, reports said.