A Copenhagen court has convicted two Swedish citizens of terrorism and attempted murder for a grenade attack targeting the Israeli embassy in the Danish capital's upscale Hellerup neighborhood.
The attack occurred in the early hours of October 2, 2024, when the two men—then aged 16 and 18—threw two hand grenades toward the diplomatic mission. The grenades failed to reach their intended target and instead detonated on the terrace of a nearby residential building approximately 100 meters away. The explosion damaged the terrace and an adjacent house, though no injuries were reported.
**The Convictions**
On Tuesday, February 3, 2026, the Copenhagen court handed down guilty verdicts for terrorism and attempted murder against the occupants of the damaged residence. The court ruled the attack was a terrorist act intended to seriously frighten both the Israeli and Danish populations. The verdict was not unanimous: two judges and four jurors voted guilty, while one judge and two jurors dissented.
The younger defendant, now 18, received a 12-year prison sentence. The older defendant, now 21, received 14 years. Both men were also ordered to be deported to Sweden upon completion of their sentences. The court acquitted them of endangering the lives or safety of soldiers guarding the embassy.
**Criminal Networks and Recruitment**
The younger perpetrator admitted to membership in Foxtrot, a Swedish criminal network described by prosecutors as acting as the "armed wing of a Middle Eastern terrorist organization" in Denmark. According to court evidence, he was recruited into the network while still in secondary school. The older defendant faces additional criminal charges in Sweden related to another attack. Both men acted in concert with one or more unidentified accomplices from a Swedish criminal network.
The younger man is also being prosecuted in Sweden for shooting at the Israeli embassy in Stockholm, highlighting a pattern of coordinated attacks across Scandinavia.
**Disputed Motives**
While both men admitted to throwing the grenades, they disputed their ideological motivations. They claimed their actions were financially motivated rather than driven by anti-Israel sentiment. Prosecutors, however, presented evidence linking the attack to broader extremist objectives.
DNA evidence played a crucial role in the investigation: the younger man's DNA was identified on a grenade found in the building's garden, helping establish his direct involvement.
**Broader Context**
The attack occurred against a backdrop of escalating tensions in Scandinavia. In May 2024, Swedish intelligence claimed that Iran had recruited members of Swedish gangs—including those from rival networks like Rumba—to carry out acts of violence against Israel. Tehran denied these allegations.
Foxtrot and Rumba represent Sweden's two dominant criminal organizations, locked in feuds that have resulted in deadly incidents. The involvement of gang members in coordinated attacks on Israeli targets suggests a potentially deeper network of international coordination.
**Appeals Expected**
The lawyers for both defendants stated they intend to appeal the verdicts, signaling that the legal proceedings may continue. The split decision among the judges and jurors—with dissenting opinions recorded—provides grounds for appellate review.
The case underscores the international dimensions of modern security threats, with perpetrators from one nation, targets in another, and suspected coordination with actors in third countries. It also raises questions about radicalization within European criminal networks and the effectiveness of recruitment efforts by foreign state actors.
**Sources**
https://www.timesofisrael.com/denmark-hands-2-swedes-lengthy-prison-sentences-for-2024-attack-on-israeli-embassy/
https://eurojewcong.org/news/communities-news/denmark/swedish-citizens-sentenced-after-2024-grenade-attack-on-israeli-embassy-in-copenhagen/
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-885546
https://www.foxnews.com/world/two-convicted-terrorism-denmark-grenade-attack-near-israeli-embassy
https://www.euronews.com/2026/02/03/two-swedish-citizens-jailed-in-denmark-for-grenade-attack-near-israeli-embassy
