A Danish court has delivered some of the toughest terrorism sentences seen in recent Nordic history after finding two Swedish men guilty for their roles in a grenade attack near the Israeli embassy in Copenhagen in October 2024. The convictions and long prison terms underscore growing concerns in Europe about criminal networks linked to extremist violence and the use of young recruits in high-risk attacks that could have caused mass casualties if successful.
The court’s decision marks a strong legal response to an act the judge said was meant to terrorise both communities and diplomatic targets in Denmark.
Shock in Copenhagen After Grenade Attack Near Embassy
In the early hours of October 2, 2024, two hand grenades were hurled toward the Israeli embassy in the affluent Hellerup district of Copenhagen, sending shock waves through local residents and diplomats.
Investigators say the grenades did not reach the mission itself and instead exploded on the terrace of a nearby residential building, which was occupied by a family at the time. Remarkably, no injuries were reported, though the blast caused property damage and traumatised neighbours.
The embassy is located in a diplomatic area of the Danish capital, close to other embassies and a Jewish school that was thankfully closed at the time of the incident.
Authorities swiftly arrested the suspects, both Swedish nationals, as part of the investigation that followed the explosions.
Court Finds Terror Nexus and Hands Down Heavy Sentences
On February 3, 2026, the Copenhagen City Court found the two defendants guilty of terrorism and attempted murder, crimes that carry severe penalties under Danish law.
The younger man, 18 years old at sentencing, received a 12-year prison sentence, while his accomplice, aged 21, was sentenced to 14 years in jail.
Prosecutors argued that the grenade attack was not simply a criminal act but an attempt to “seriously frighten the Israeli and Danish populations,” and therefore met the statutory definition of a terrorist act.
In court filings, the younger suspect acknowledged involvement in a Swedish criminal network known as Foxtrot, which authorities say recruited him while he was still in school. Prosecutors characterised this group as having acted like an armed wing of a Middle Eastern terrorist organisation, with the embassy designated as a target.
However, both defendants denied ideological motives during the trial, claiming they threw the grenades for payment rather than with any political intent.
The court also ruled that both men acted with the prior agreement of at least one unidentified accomplice from a criminal network in Sweden.
Evidence, DNA and Broader Legal Context
Forensic evidence played a key role in the prosecution’s case. Investigators were able to match DNA from one of the suspects to traces found on a grenade located in the garden of a nearby property.
In addition to the terrorism verdicts, both men were convicted of attempted murder for endangering the residents of the nearby building, though they were acquitted of charges related to endangering the soldiers guarding the embassy itself.
The court’s decision was not unanimous on the terrorism charge. According to the Associated Press, the panel of judges and jurors split on whether the defendants’ actions met the legal threshold for terrorism, but a majority upheld the charge.
Both convicted men now face deportation to Sweden after completing their sentences, and defence lawyers have said they plan to appeal the verdicts.
Background: Broader Security Concerns in Nordic Capitals
The grenade attack in Copenhagen did not occur in isolation. Historically, attacks against Israeli diplomatic missions in Europe have been rare but serious. According to security tracking sources, in October 2024, a separate shooting incident targeted the Israeli embassy in Stockholm just one day before the Copenhagen grenade attack, indicating a troubling pattern.
Security analysts have cautioned that criminal gangs with transnational links can serve as “force multipliers” for extremist causes, blurring the lines between organised crime and terrorism. Reports have also highlighted concerns over the recruitment of younger individuals by criminal networks for high-risk attacks.
Denmark’s legal response, including heavy sentences and potential deportation, signals a firm stance against both terrorism and its potential enablers. The case also underscores the complexities European law enforcement faces when terrorism intersects with criminal syndicates.
Impact on Community and Diplomatic Security
Residents near the site of the attack have expressed ongoing concerns about public safety and the risks posed by violent acts near diplomatic quarters. Local authorities have boosted patrols around diplomatic missions and Jewish community sites in the capital to reassure citizens and deter copycat attacks.
The Danish legal action against the two Swedish nationals also sends a strong message to the international community that attacks on diplomatic facilities will be met with rigorous prosecution and accountability.
As this case moves into the appeals process and broader debates continue about criminal recruitment and terrorist tactics, many are watching closely to see how Nordic countries adapt their legal and security frameworks to emerging threats.
