Two predawn explosions rock area around Israeli Embassy in Copenhagen

Two predawn explosions rock area around Israeli Embassy in Copenhagen but no one is injured

A police vehicle near the Israeli Embassy in Copenhagen

By Jan M. Olsen

Oct. 2, 2024 10:15 AM PT

COPENHAGEN —

Three young Swedes were arrested Wednesday in connection with two predawn explosions that occurred in the vicinity of the Israeli Embassy in Copenhagen, prompting a nearby Jewish school to close for the day. Police said no one was injured.

“Our investigation shows that the blasts likely were caused by hand grenades,” said Jens Jespersen, a spokesperson for the Copenhagen police, adding that it was unclear whether the Israeli Embassy was the target. The blasts occurred around 3:20 a.m.

He said the explosions were about 100 yards from the embassy, which is located in an area with other embassies. It caused damage to another building, but Jespersen did not describe the nature of the damage.

The suspects were between 15 and 20 years old, Jespersen said. He said one was arrested near the embassy while the two others were detained on a train at Copenhagen’s central station. They were not identified.

The two arrested on the train will likely face preliminary charges of illegal weapons possession, he said. Any preliminary charge could be expanded later, Jespersen said.

The Ekstra Bladet newspaper ran photos of a man in a white hazmat suit being taken away by police on a train platform at the central station.

After the explosions, heavily armed officers, search dogs and forensic teams inspected the area around the Israeli Embassy.

Copenhagen’s Jewish school, Carolineskolen, which is just down the street from the embassy, was already scheduled to be closed on Thursday and Friday for the Jewish New Year holidays, said Michael Rachlin, a spokesperson for Denmark’s Jewish community.

There will be extra security around the main synagogue in downtown Copenhagen, the Jewish community said in a statement. Community chairman Henrik Goldstein wrote that he “would like to encourage people to be aware when moving in public spaces.”

“And be critical of what you hear on social media and rumors,” he wrote, adding that “there is no reason to refrain from participating in Jewish life.”

Police refused to provide details about the intensity of the blasts.

Danish Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard told broadcaster TV2 that the incident was “inherently serious,” adding that it was too early to say anything about a motive.

Jespersen said the Danish investigation will include looking at what Sweden’s domestic security agency SAPO said on May 30, when it accused Iran of using established criminal networks in Sweden as a proxy to target Israeli or Jewish interests in Denmark.

The investigation will also look at possible links with loud bangs that were heard in the area around the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm late Tuesday, he said. Police later announced that findings from the scene indicated the embassy was hit by bullets. No one has been arrested, they said.

Swedish broadcaster TV4 said a weapon and an empty shell casing were found at or near the embassy.

“It is true that the police have made findings at the Israeli Embassy [in Stockholm], but we will not go into detail about what these findings are,” police spokesperson Rebecca Landberg said, citing pre-investigation confidentiality.

In late January, the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm was sealed off after what was then described as “a dangerous object” was found on its grounds. Swedish media said the object was a hand grenade.

“I look with severity on the shooting at Israel’s embassy in Stockholm last night and the events reported from Copenhagen this morning,” Swedish Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer was quoted as saying by the Swedish news agency TT.

Olsen writes for the Associated Press.