2 Swedish teenagers remanded in custody over explosion near Israeli Embassy in Denmark

By Ebad Ahmed

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AA) - A Danish court on Thursday allowed a four-week custody of two Swedish teenagers accused of throwing hand grenades near the Israeli Embassy in Copenhagen, local media reported.

The two Swedes, age 16 and 19, were charged with possession of five hand grenades in a closed-door hearing. The teenagers pleaded not guilty, according to the state media DR.

"Those who may have given them the hand grenades should not be told what will come out at the hearing," the prosecutor pleaded in the court. The judge agreed and chose to close the doors.

The Swedish nationals were arrested on Wednesday morning in a police operation at the Copenhagen Central Station. The Copenhagen police confirmed that a third person was also arrested on the same day and has been released.

Earlier on Wednesday, Copenhagen police chief Jens Jespersen told a press conference that at least two explosions occurred at 3:20 a.m. local time (0120GMT) at the Israeli Embassy, and according to the preliminary assessment, it was due to two hand grenades.

"We can't say for sure if the embassy has been or not been the target of these explosions … We are also investigating if they have acted alone, on request, or together with others," Jespersen added.

The incident occurred in the Danish capital's Hellerup area, which also hosts the foreign missions of Türkiye, Iran, Thailand, and Romania, all within close proximity of each other.