Two Young Swedes Found Guilty of Terrorist Attacks on Israeli Embassy in Copenhagen

The Copenhagen District Court has found two young Swedish nationals guilty of carrying out a terrorist attack by throwing hand grenades at the Israeli embassy in Denmark in October 2024. The verdict was announced following a highly attended court session, where the defendants, now aged 18 and 21, appeared solemn as the judgment was delivered.

At the time of the incident, the accused were 16 and 19 years old. The attack involved throwing two hand grenades towards the embassy, which instead struck a nearby residential building, fortunately causing no injuries. Despite their age, the court ruled firmly on the severity of their actions, emphasizing the serious implications for international security and relations.

Both defendants denied the terrorism charges during the trial. The older accused stated, "I am not an angel, but not a terrorist either," claiming he only learned just before the attack that the embassy was the target, and previously had expressed reluctance to direct violence at it. The younger defendant admitted to throwing the grenades but insisted he was unaware that the embassy was the target. He also faces additional charges related to a shooting incident at the Israeli embassy in Stockholm a day earlier.

The prosecution presented evidence linking the attack to the broader Israel-Palestine conflict and to a criminal network known as Foxtrot, which reportedly carried out these actions on behalf of Iran. The 18-year-old is separately implicated in a murder case in Hallstahammar from September 2024, while the 21-year-old is charged with a murder in Malmö from August 2024.

The court described the act as "completely insane," especially since the grenades endangered a residential family. The verdict underscores the continuing security challenges posed by politically motivated violence and criminal networks crossing national boundaries.

Currently, the court’s ruling marks a significant step in addressing terrorism-related offenses involving Swedish nationals abroad, highlighting Sweden’s role in tackling these issues within the broader context of European security.