A new explosion occurred near the Israeli embassy in Denmark on Monday, coinciding with the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2022. The blast took place approximately 500 meters from the embassy, just five days after two other explosions near the same location, for which two Swedish nationals are currently in custody.
Copenhagen police are investigating the latest explosion to determine if there is any connection to the earlier incidents. “We are of course looking into whether there could be a connection to the [earlier] incident at the Israeli embassy,” stated police inspector Trine Moller. However, she noted that there is currently no indication linking the two events, and preliminary assessments suggest the explosion may have resulted from gunfire.
Local media reported traces of the blast occurring in front of a residential building close to the embassy. Fortunately, no injuries were reported from the explosion, but the building sustained some damage.
The blast coincides with heightened tensions in the Middle East. Over the past year, Israel has engaged in an ongoing conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, leading to military operations against the group amid widespread protests against the wars. This escalation has culminated in increased security concerns throughout Europe.
Sweden’s intelligence agency, Sapo, indicated that Iran might have had a hand in the recent spate of incidents in Denmark, including a shooting near Israel’s embassy in Stockholm, which occurred a day before the explosions in Copenhagen. In May, Sapo warned that Iran was allegedly recruiting members of Swedish criminal gangs to carry out violent acts against Israeli interests—a claim that Iran has denied.
In connection with the recent explosions, Danish authorities detained three Swedish nationals, with two teenagers—aged 16 and 19—charged in Danish court on Thursday with possessing five hand grenades and detonating two of them on a rooftop near the Israeli embassy. Their identities have been withheld by court order. The third individual, also aged 19, was arrested but subsequently released after questioning.
The Danish court has ordered the detention of the two teenagers for 27 days. They were apprehended while traveling on a train at Copenhagen's main railway station before being questioned in court. Investigators continue to explore whether the Israeli embassy was the intended target of these attacks.
The escalation in violence across Europe is not an isolated incident. This year alone, at least ten Swedes have faced charges in Denmark related to attempted murder or weapons possession, which has raised alarms over the growing influence of organized crime.
Swedish authorities have previously indicated that they have thwarted several planned attacks linked to Iranian security services using local criminal networks—an assertion that Iran has rejected as unfounded.
As Copenhagen grapples with the ramifications of these violent incidents, the situation remains fluid. Authorities are working diligently to investigate and ensure the safety of residents, while the international community watches with concern in the wake of rising tensions in the Middle East and Europe.