Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson condemned “an attempted attack” on the Israeli embassy in Stockholm after police destroyed an explosive object thrown into the building, according to Aftonbladet.
“This is very serious. An attempted attack on an embassy is an attack both on those who work there and on Sweden.”
Police reported that staff found a “live” device in the embassy building on Wednesday, describing it as “a dangerous object,” although they did not specify the type of device. After sealing off the area around the object, a bomb squad was called to the site and decided to destroy the device.
Our assessment is that it was live.
Swedish media, citing unidentified sources, reported that it was a hand grenade, while Aftonbladet reported that it was thrown over a fence and landed on the ground near the building. Israel’s ambassador to Sweden, Ziv Nevo Kulman, claimed that the embassy and its staff had been subjected to an “attempted attack.”
“We will not be intimidated by terror.”
The Swedish government in late October pledged 10 million kronor ($1 million) to reinforce security at Jewish institutions and communities following a rise in anti-Semitism amid the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
Sweden’s police reported receiving 120 reports of anti-Semitic offences since the outbreak of the war. In December, Kristersson took part in a march against anti-Semitism in Stockholm to draw attention to the impact of the war.
