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Sweden Probing Foiled Israel Embassy Attack As 'Terrorist Crime'


Fri 02 Feb 2024 | 01:06 PM
Basant Ahmed

Sweden's intelligence service said Friday that the investigation into a foiled attack on the Israeli embassy in Stockholm this week was being probed as a potential "terrorist crime.", AFP reported. 

Police were called to the embassy on Wednesday after a "dangerous object" was discovered on its grounds, which the national bomb squad destroyed after determining it was "live".

Police declined to comment on what the object was but media have reported it was a hand grenade.

"The preliminary investigation launched by the Swedish Police Authority on January 31, following the discovery of a dangerous object at the Israeli Embassy in Stockholm, has been taken over by the Swedish Security Service," the service said in a statement.

"In connection with this, the criminal classification has been changed to a terrorist crime," it added.

Swedish tabloid Aftonbladet said it had been thrown over the fence surrounding the mission and had landed on the ground near the building.

Israeli ambassador to Sweden Ziv Nevo Kulman said in a post to X that the embassy had been "subject to an attempted attack."

"We will not be intimidated by terror," Kulman added.

Sweden's government in late October pledged 10 million kronor ($1 million) to increase security at Jewish institutions and congregations, following increased anti-Semitism in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war.