A Danish court is trying two Swedish men, now 18 and 21, on terrorism, aggravated assault and attempted murder charges after hand grenades were thrown near the Israeli embassy in Hellerup on 2 October 2024. Prosecutors say DNA from the younger defendant was found on one grenade; he admits throwing grenades but denies targeting the embassy. The defendants were arrested at Copenhagen station and one is also linked to a related Stockholm embassy shooting. Swedish intelligence has alleged Iran tried to recruit criminal gangs for attacks — a claim Tehran denies.
Two Swedish Teenagers Face Terrorism Trial Over Grenade Attack Near Israeli Embassy in Copenhagen
A Danish court is trying two Swedish men, now 18 and 21, on terrorism, aggravated assault and attempted murder charges after hand grenades were thrown near the Israeli embassy in Hellerup on 2 October 2024. Prosecutors say DNA from the younger defendant was found on one grenade; he admits throwing grenades but denies targeting the embassy. The defendants were arrested at Copenhagen station and one is also linked to a related Stockholm embassy shooting. Swedish intelligence has alleged Iran tried to recruit criminal gangs for attacks — a claim Tehran denies.
07:45 PM, 11/12/2025Security
Two Swedish Teenagers Face Terrorism Trial Over Grenade Attack Near Israeli Embassy in Copenhagen
A Danish court has opened a terrorism trial against two Swedish men who prosecutors say threw hand grenades near the Israeli embassy in the Copenhagen suburb of Hellerup on 2 October 2024. The defendants, now 18 and 21, also face charges of aggravated assault and attempted murder.
Defence statements
Defence lawyer Jakob Buch-Jepsen told the court his 18-year-old client pleads not guilty to the terrorism charge but has admitted a lesser offence.
"My client pleads not guilty to the charge of terrorism,"the lawyer said, adding that the defendant "admits to throwing two grenades... but he did not throw them at the embassy."
The second defendant, who appeared in court wearing a black puffer jacket, has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Incident and evidence
Prosecutors say the pair transported five hand grenades to the area and threw two toward the embassy; both grenades reportedly struck a nearby residential building and exploded late on the night of 2 October. Police say DNA from the younger defendant was found on one of the grenades recovered in a garden, according to prosecutor Soren Harbo. At the time of arrest the suspects were 16 and 18 years old; they were detained at Copenhagen's main train station as they prepared to travel to Amsterdam.
Related proceedings and wider context
The 18-year-old is also reportedly being prosecuted in Sweden in connection with a shooting at the Israeli embassy in Stockholm on 1 October 2024. The Copenhagen attack occurred hours after that shooting; the Stockholm case has not yet gone to trial.
Swedish media report the younger defendant was recruited while at secondary school by a criminal gang known as "Foxtrot." In May 2024, Swedish intelligence warned that Iran was attempting to recruit members of Swedish criminal gangs to carry out attacks on Israeli targets — an allegation Tehran has denied.
Trial schedule
The trial is scheduled across several days and is expected to conclude on 3 February 2025.