Gunfire Reported Near Israeli Embassy in Stockholm, Swedish Police Launch Investigation

Gunfire was reported near the Israeli embassy in Stockholm on Tuesday afternoon, Swedish police confirmed, noting that no injuries were sustained.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident.

The shooting took place at around 18:00 local time (19:00 GMT) near the embassy, located in central Stockholm. Rebecca Landberg, spokeswoman for the Stockholm police, said they were notified about "shots fired at the Israeli embassy." However, she declined to provide specific details, stating that the investigation is still ongoing. It was confirmed by police that the Israeli embassy building had been struck.

The incident follows two explosions that occurred near the Israeli embassy in a suburb of Copenhagen, Denmark. Like in Stockholm, no injuries were reported in the Copenhagen incident.

The Swedish police have launched an investigation into several charges, including a violation of weapons legislation, illegal threats, and endangering public safety. While no arrests have been made so far, Landberg mentioned that there are numerous security cameras in the vicinity and that police are collecting footage for further analysis.

This event comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East. On Tuesday night, Iran reportedly fired nearly 200 missiles at Israel, prompting Israeli authorities to warn Tehran that it "will pay the price."

Since the war in Gaza erupted in October 2023, multiple incidents have occurred near the Israeli embassy in Sweden, accompanied by a noticeable rise in anti-Semitic activities within the country. In February, a grenade was discovered in the embassy’s compound, which the Israeli ambassador called an assassination attempt. In May, gunshots were heard outside the embassy, leading Swedish authorities to bolster security around Israeli-owned buildings.

In late May, the Swedish intelligence agency reported that Iran was allegedly recruiting members of Swedish criminal organisations to carry out "violent actions" against Israel, though Tehran has denied these claims.

(Source: Amna)