Swedish police investigate possible gunfire outside Israeli embassy in Stockholm

Swedish authorities are investigating an “unusual incident” after gunfire was heard near the Israeli embassy in Stockholm, Israel’s Foreign Ministry confirmed in a statement on Tuesday evening.

According to local TV4 Nyheterna channel, a “major police operation” was underway outside the embassy in the Swedish capital’s posh Östermalm district after a loud bang was reported in the area.

“All workers are safe and none of them were injured,” the Foreign Ministry in Yerushalayim said in a statement acknowledging the incident.

According to TV4 Nyheterna, a firearm and an empty shell were found outside the embassy. Some reports said a window was broken.

The incident was reported about 30 minutes before Iran launched 180 ballistic missiles at the Jewish state in its second-ever direct attack; the first was in April.

Before the attack, Israeli Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz called an emergency meeting with all Israeli ambassadors on “how to deal with the heads of state in the various capitals in view of the recent attacks.”

Iran is behind a series of terrorist attacks carried out in recent months by criminal gangs targeting Israeli embassies in Europe, including Sweden, Mossad intelligence said earlier this year.

(JNS)