Terrorism in Denmark
Terrorism in Denmark refers to terrorist attacks carried out in Denmark or by people connected to Denmark. Like other countries Denmark increased its focus on defending against terrorist attacks after the September 11 attacks in New York in 2001. The September 11 attacks led to strengthened laws in a number of areas. 31 May 2002 the parliament of Denmark (Danish: Folketing) approved anti-terror legislation with the aim of preventing terrorism in Denmark and internationally. The new legislation aligned with the definitions of terrorism which were in use by the European Union and the United Nations.[1]
Terrorist incidents and trials
1985
2005
2006
The
2007
2007 Al Qaeda Plot in Copenhagen - Danish police officers and Security Intelligence Service agents arrested eight, six of which were released after questioning. The two remaining, described as Islamic militants with ties to Al Qaeda, were convicted in 2008 of planning terrorism with the use of bombs.[7][8]
In 2007, Morocco-born Said Mansour was the first to be charged with the offence of inciting terrorism.[9] Material produced by him has been found by several convicted terrorists worldwide. In 2014, he was sentenced again by the Fredriksberg court to four years in jail for publishing extremist islamist material thereby supporting al-Qaeda. In 2015 the Østre Landsret upholds the sentenced and strips Mansour of his Danish citizenship and issues a deportation order. In June 2016, the supreme court upholds the deportation order. After the supreme court decision, Danish authorities negotiated with Morocco on a repatriation treaty. He was deported in January 2019.[10]
2010
2010 Copenhagen terror plot - Security services in Denmark and Sweden thwarted a terrorist plot against Jyllands-Posten, the publisher of the controversial cartoons of Muhammad in 2005. In several raids they detained five men, who were described as militant islamists. Automatic weapons, together with ammunition and silencers, were seized by the police.[11]
Hotel Jørgensen explosion - An attempted letter bomb attack by a Belgian of Chechen ethnicity.
2012
Two Somali brothers residing in Denmark were arrested in May 2012 on suspicion of preparing a terrorist attack and the elder was alleged to have undergone training by Al-Shabaab. In February 2013 they were charged with financing terrorism and terrorist training. The younger brother admitted to supporting Al-Shabaab in the district court. Upon appeal, both brothers were sentenced for attempted terrorist training in the appeals court.[9]
2015
2015 Copenhagen shootings - shooting attacks in Copenhagen beginning in the afternoon of 14 February at a public event called "Art, Blasphemy and Freedom of Expression" at Krudttønden cultural centre, followed by another at the Great Synagogue just after midnight (i.e., 15 February), and finally the killing of the perpetrator in the early morning by police. Two victims and the perpetrator were killed, while five police officers were wounded.[12]
2016
2018
2019
Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET) and police arrested around 20 people throughout Denmark 11 December 2019, 8 of which have been charged with attempted terrorism. They had bought bomb-making materials and tried (unsuccessfully) to acquire firearms. It is unknown if their target was in Denmark or abroad, but the motive was radical Islamist ideology.[17][18]
References
- ^ "Terrorlove og Muhammed-krise, 2001-2006". danmarkshistorien.dk (in Danish). Aarhus University. Retrieved 2020-08-15.
- ^ "27 Injured in 3 Terrorist Explosions in Copenhagen". Los Angeles Times. Associated Press. 22 July 1985. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- Tidningarnas Telegrambyrå. 16 April 2008. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
- ^ a b "Udvist terrordømt fra Vollsmose: Han må blive i Danmark". Fyens Stiftstidende (in Danish). 12 June 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ^ a b "Vollsmosesagen: Civilagenten Lars fældede terrornetværk". DR News (in Danish). 29 July 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ^ "Terroristen fra Vollsmose: - Jeg væmmes over den person, jeg var - TV 2". Archived from the original on 1 July 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2018.
- ^ "12 og 7 års fængsel i terrorsag fra Glasvej". Berlingske (in Danish). 21 October 2008. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ^ "Muhammedstriden gjorde Danmark til terrormål". vg.no (in Norwegian). 5 September 2007. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ^ a b Journalist, Søren Astrup (2008-10-21). "Fakta: De danske terrorsager". Politiken (in Danish). Retrieved 2019-04-20.
- ^ "Terrordømte Said Mansour sendes ud af landet". DR (in Danish). Retrieved 2019-01-24.
- ^ "Police Arrest 'Militant Islamists' in Denmark Plot". Bloomberg.com. 2010-12-29. Retrieved 2023-05-26.
- ^ "Gerningsmanden skød med gevær som bruges i forsvaret". DR News (in Danish). 16 February 2015. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ^ press.com/news/global/europe/learning-the-fundamentals-muslim-wannabe-danish-teen-guilty-of-planning-jewish-school-bombing/2017/05/16/ [dead link]
- ^ "Overblik: Her er Kundbysagen". Berlingske (in Danish). 16 May 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ^ Journalist, Søren Astrup (2008-10-21). "Fakta: De danske terrorsager". Politiken (in Danish). Retrieved 2019-04-20.
- ^ "Norsk-iraner pågrepet for drapsplan i Danmark – kaller dansk ambassadør hjem" (in Norwegian). vg.no. 30 October 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ^ "Islamist terrorism suspects arrested in raids across Denmark". The Guardian. 11 December 2019. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
- ^ "To kvinder og seks mænd sigtet for terrorplaner: Ville fremstille bomber og forsøgte at købe våben" (in Danish). DR News. 12 December 2019. Retrieved 13 December 2019.