Early Wednesday morning, two explosions occurred near the Israeli Embassy in Copenhagen, prompting a nearby Jewish school to close for the day, according to police in Denmark’s capital. Authorities arrested three men in connection with the incident.
No injuries were reported, and police are investigating possible links between the explosions, which took place around 3:20 a.m., and the Israeli diplomatic mission, which is located near several other embassies.
Two of the suspects were apprehended on a train at Copenhagen’s central station, while the third was arrested elsewhere in the city. Their identities have not been disclosed.
Danish newspaper Ekstra Bladet published photos showing a man in a white hazmat suit being taken into custody by police at the central station. Meanwhile, heavily armed officers, search dogs, and forensic teams combed through the area, which had been cordoned off for investigation.
Carolineskolen, a Jewish school close to the embassy, was already scheduled to close on Thursday and Friday for the Jewish New Year celebrations, according to Michael Rachlin, a spokesperson for Denmark’s Jewish community.
In response to the explosions, additional security measures were put in place at the main synagogue in downtown Copenhagen. Henrik Goldstein, chairman of the Jewish community, urged people to stay vigilant in public and to be cautious of misinformation on social media. He reassured the community that there was no reason to avoid participating in Jewish activities.
Police did not provide further details on the severity of the explosions or the extent of any damage.
Denmark’s Justice Minister, Peter Hummelgaard, described the incident as “inherently serious” but said it was too soon to determine a motive.
This event followed a separate incident in Stockholm on Tuesday night, where a loud bang was reported near the Israeli Embassy. Swedish authorities later confirmed that the embassy had been struck by gunfire, though no arrests had been made. A weapon and an empty shell casing were found at or near the scene, according to Swedish media reports.
In late January, the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm was also sealed off after a “dangerous object,” later identified as a hand grenade, was discovered on the premises.
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Sweden’s Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer condemned the recent attacks, stating, “I view the shooting at Israel’s Embassy in Stockholm and the events reported from Copenhagen with utmost seriousness.”
