A man has blown himself up after attacking the US Embassy in the south-eastern European country of Montenegro with a hand grenade.
According to the Police Administration of Montenegro, the man threw a grenade into the compound of the embassy in the Montenegrin capital of Podgorica before killing himself just outside the building.
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The government condemned the attack in the 'strongest terms' and confirmed that the safety and security of mission personnel were not violated in the attack.
"At 00:30 [23:30 UTC], in front of the US Embassy building in Podgorica, Montenegro, an unknown person committed suicide with an explosive device. Immediately before, the person threw an explosive device from the intersection near the Sport Center into the US Embassy compound," the Government of Montenegro tweeted.
"Most probably, the device was a hand grenade. Police investigation and identification is underway directed by the prosecutor."
Reports by local media said that residents had heard two explosions in the area close to midnight local time.
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According to witnesses at the scene, police quickly arrived at the scene and sealed off the Boulevard of the Revolution, nearby to the embassy.
The news site Portal Analitika said the man's motives for throwing the grenade towards the embassy were not yet known but are being investigated.
Via its website, the US embassy warned US citizens to stay away from the embassy until told otherwise, and to keep an eye on local media for further updates.
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"The US Embassy in Podgorica advises US citizens there is an active security situation at the US Embassy in Podgorica," the embassy's website advised.
"Avoid the Embassy until further notice."
Officials confirmed that no one other than the attacker was harmed in the incident as the embassy had been closed for the night, The New York Times reported.
The embassy building itself was not damaged in the attack although the explosion did leave a crater in the embassy courtyard.
Montenegro is one of the world's youngest nations, nestled between Croatia, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania and Kosovo in the Balkan region of south-east Europe.
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A former Yugoslav republic, the nation formed part of Serbia and Montenegro after Yugoslavia broke up in 1992 before it declared independence from Serbia in 2006, becoming a NATO member last year.
The country is currently in negotiations with the EU and hopes to accede to the union by 2025.
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