Danish Police Arrest 3 Individuals Following Explosions Near Israeli Embassy
COPENHAGEN—Danish police stated on Wednesday that they were on the case of two explosions likely caused by hand grenades near Israel’s Copenhagen embassy and had taken three young Swedes into custody for questioning.
According to Copenhagen Police Chief Superintendent Jens Jespersen, two of the individuals were captured on a train at Copenhagen’s main railway station, while the third was apprehended elsewhere in the Danish capital following the blasts.
Jespersen informed reporters that the explosions, likely from two hand grenades, had resulted in some damage to a building approximately 100 meters away from the embassy.
He mentioned, “We cannot confirm whether the embassy was the intended target of these explosions or not. We are investigating whether they acted alone, at someone’s behest, or in collaboration with others.”
He refrained from disclosing how the three individuals, aged between 15 and 20, were connected to the incident but shared that two of them were expected to face preliminary charges for illegal possession of weapons.
This year, at least 10 Swedes have been indicted in Denmark for attempted murder or possession of weapons, sparking concern and strong criticism in Denmark over the proliferation of organized crime.
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The Copenhagen explosions occurred at approximately 3:20 a.m. local time (0120 GMT), as per the Israeli embassy.
“We are taken aback by the incident. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, and there were no individuals present at the embassy during the explosions,” a spokesperson for the embassy informed Reuters.
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The Danish security and intelligence service is aiding the police in their investigation and evaluating the already heightened security measures around locations associated with the Jewish community in Denmark, as stated in a written comment by the service.
Carolineskolen, a Jewish school near the embassy in Copenhagen, will remain closed on Wednesday due to its close proximity to the scene of the crime, as relayed by the Jewish Community in Denmark to Reuters.
Furthermore, there have been multiple recent security incidents near Israel’s embassy in neighboring Sweden, where authorities announced an investigation into suspected gunfire in the area on Tuesday.
In January, a bomb squad from Stockholm police disarmed what was termed a hazardous object outside the Israeli embassy facility.
In the incidents in Sweden, no injuries or significant damages were reported.
