Swedish Intelligence Suggests Iran May Be Linked to Embassy Explosions in Scandinavia

Sweden’s intelligence agency, Sapo, announced on Thursday that Iran may have been involved in recent explosions and gunfire incidents near Israeli embassies in Sweden and Denmark. The statement follows a series of attacks this week, heightening concerns about regional security and potential international links to the violence.

In Denmark, authorities arrested three Swedish nationals on Wednesday after two explosions, believed to have been caused by hand grenades, occurred near the Israeli embassy in Copenhagen. When questioned about possible Iranian involvement, Fredrik Hallstrom, head of operations at Sapo, indicated that there were elements that could suggest a connection. “There are some things that could point in that direction,” Hallstrom said at a press conference, referencing both the targets and the methods used in the attacks. However, he emphasized that this was an assumption rather than confirmed knowledge.

This comes after a warning from Sapo in May, in which the agency accused Iran of recruiting Swedish criminal gangs to carry out violent acts against Israeli and other interests in Sweden, a claim that Iran has denied. On Wednesday, Swedish broadcaster SVT reported that the recent attacks may have been ordered by the Swedish criminal network Foxtrot, allegedly at the request of Iranian authorities.

Danish police reported that two of the arrested Swedish nationals, aged 16 and 19, have been remanded in custody for 27 days by a Danish court. A third suspect, who was arrested near the crime scene, has since been released.

The incidents come amid increased tension following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023. Since then, multiple incidents targeting Israeli interests in Sweden have been reported. In February, a grenade was discovered on the grounds of the Israeli embassy in Stockholm, and in May, gunshots were fired outside the same embassy, prompting Israeli officials to increase security measures around their interests in Sweden and Denmark.

The possibility of Iranian involvement in these attacks has added a new layer of complexity to Sweden’s already heightened security environment. While investigations continue, authorities are focusing on the potential international dimensions of these violent acts, particularly the alleged ties between Swedish criminal networks and Iran.