Explosive device found near Israeli embassy in Sweden, detonated by police

An object believed to be an explosive device was found outside the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm on Wednesday and destroyed by the national bomb squad, Swedish police said.

Embassy staff had notified police of the object, triggering a large response from law enforcement, police said.

The device was later detonated in a controlled manner, a police spokesperson told the broadcaster TV4.

Police declined to give any detail on the nature of the object, or of how it had got into the embassy grounds.

Today we were subject to an attempted attack against the Embassy of Israel in Stockholm and its employees. We thank the Swedish authorities for their swift response. We will not be intimidated by terror.

— Ziv Nevo Kulman ️ (@zivnk) January 31, 2024

Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said that it was "a very serious incident. An attempted attack on an embassy is an attack both on those who work there and in Sweden."

He went on to say that the local police is "investigating who is responsible. Police have now tightened the surveillance of the embassy and of Jewish institutions in Sweden."

Large area near Israeli embassy evacuated

The embassy building was cordoned off at a distance of about 100 meters (yards).

The embassy could not immediately be reached for comment.

Foreign Minister Israel Katz commented on the attempted attack, congratulating the embassy staff in Sweden and the Swedish police "for their vigilance and quick handling of the attempt to attack the embassy."

"Our excellent diplomats around the world are subject to danger and threats from the supporters of Islamic terrorism," he added. "I said this to all my colleagues - Islamic terrorism must be eradicated everywhere, in Gaza and in Europe. Protect your countries."