Two Swedish nationals detained for alleged grenade attack near Israeli embassy in Hellerup

Two young Swedish nationals, aged 16 and 19, have been remanded in custody for four weeks for allegedly throwing two hand grenades near the Israeli embassy in Hellerup, Denmark. A judge at the Copenhagen District Court made this decision on Thursday afternoon.

As the suspects were escorted into the packed courtroom in central Copenhagen, they appeared as young teenagers, visibly confused by the proceedings. The 16-year-old had short, brown curly hair, while the 19-year-old had larger curls and wore a blue sweater.

At the start of the preliminary hearing, special prosecutor Søren Harbo outlined the charges against the two. They face accusations of possessing five hand grenades and detonating two of them in proximity to the Israeli embassy. Authorities allege that the incident involved multiple unidentified accomplices, prompting the prosecutor to request closed doors for the proceedings. Harbo stated that those who may have provided the grenades should not learn what is revealed in court.

The suspects were arrested at Copenhagen Central Station on Wednesday around 11:43 AM during a large-scale police operation. Train services were briefly disrupted as officers stormed a train to apprehend the two.

Both teenagers have denied the charges against them. The judge emphasized that the suspects allegedly attempted to flee the country after the incident, underscoring concerns that they could influence the investigation if released. Harbo remarked on the gravity of the situation, noting that it is serious to be in possession of five hand grenades and to detonate two on private property. A third individual was also arrested during the operation but has since been released.