Danish police announced Wednesday that they were investigating two “explosions” that occurred “late at night” near the Israeli embassy in the suburbs of Copenhagen, and their Swedish counterpart is investigating shootings that targeted the Israeli embassy in Copenhagen on Tuesday. Stockholm, against a backdrop of extreme tensions in the Middle East.
These two incidents come the day after a major attack by Iran on Israeli territory, with Israel promising that Tehran would “ []would pay) the price.”
“No one was injured and we are carrying out preliminary investigations at the scene,” police said on the social network X.
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Embassy security personnel heard the detonations around 3:20 a.m. (01:20 GMT).
The explosions, the scale of which was not specified, occurred in the “immediate vicinity” of the Israeli embassy, police spokesperson Jakob Hansen said at a press briefing.
“It is too early to say if there is a link” between the explosions and the embassy, he added, specifying that the police would be present on site for “many hours”.
By mid-morning, the neighborhood was cordoned off and the police were busy under the autumn sun, noted an AFP journalist.
Security measures for the Jewish community
No trace of an explosion was visible from outside the security perimeter.
The Danish intelligence service, PET, said it was monitoring the situation “closely” and helping the police in their investigation.
“We are in dialogue with the Israeli Embassy regarding security and are constantly evaluating the extent of security measures already implemented in a number of Jewish community locations,” they wrote in an email to the AFP.
It is still too early to say whether there is a link between the explosions and the embassy, said Jakob Hansen, police spokesperson during a press briefing.
Israel’s Ambassador to Denmark, David Akov, said he was “shocked by the appalling incident that occurred near the embassy a few hours ago” in a message on the social networkX.
“We have full confidence in the Danish authorities and the police in their investigation,” he added.
Police provided few details about the attack, which they said occurred “late at night.”
Three people in connection with the two explosions were arrested, Copenhagen police said.
“Two men were arrested on a train at Copenhagen Central Station. Additionally, earlier today we arrested a man elsewhere in Copenhagen,” police said in a post on the social network X.
The Israeli embassy is located in the affluent suburb of Hellerup, north of Copenhagen, in an area which has many foreign representations such as Romania, Thailand but also Iran and Turkey.
Denmark said on Tuesday it was in favor of an international military intervention in the Middle East to impose a two-state solution, one Palestinian, the other Israeli, deeming the current situation inextricable.
In neighboring Sweden, the diplomatic mission was also targeted: gunshots, which did not cause any injuries, were heard on Tuesday around 6:00 p.m. (4:00 p.m. GMT) in a street near the embassy.
“We have made findings that indicate shootings at the Israeli embassy, but we do not want to disclose exactly what findings were made because the investigation is ongoing,” Rebecca Landberg, Stockholm police press officer.
Increase in anti-Semitic acts
Impacts were observed on the building, police said in a press release. An investigation was opened for aggravated violation of weapons legislation, endangering others and illegal threats.
Several incidents have occurred near the Israeli embassy in Sweden since the start of the war against the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas in the Gaza Strip in October 2023 – a war triggered by the pogrom perpetrated by the latter on October 7 hard Israeli soil.
In February, a grenade was found in the embassy compound, which the Israeli ambassador called an attempted attack.
In May, shooting was observed outside the building, leading to increased security measures around Israeli interests in Sweden.
Swedish intelligence services claimed in late May that Iran was recruiting members of Swedish criminal gangs to carry out “acts of violence” against Israel, which Tehran denied.
Authorities have also recorded an increase in anti-Semitic acts in Sweden since the start of the Gaza war.
