Vollsmose terrorist trial
The Vollsmose terrorists were three men convicted of attempted terrorism in Denmark in 2007–2008. Nine men were initially arrested by Danish police in the
Lene Espersen, the Danish Minister of Justice, called the plot "the most severe ever in Denmark" and said the group were planning one or more terrorist attacks against targets in Denmark. It was later claimed that they had planned on using bombs to attack the Folketing (Danish Parliament), Jyllands-Posten (the newspaper involved in the 2005 cartoon controversy), Copenhagen's City Hall Square or another unspecified target.[1][3] The group was motivated by Islamic extremism.[2]
Suspects
Two of the suspects were released the day of their arrest after preliminary questioning. Two others were released after eight weeks in detention.[4] The two denied any involvement in a terrorist plot.
One of the men, known as Lars, was 33 at the time and had been used by the
None of the suspects had a criminal record. Three or four of the suspects traveled together around Denmark engaging young Muslims in debates on Islam and Dawah.[citation needed]
According to the prosecution, the suspects planned their attacks due to the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy and Denmark's participation in the Iraq War.[citation needed]
Evidence
Security services found
Personal computers were also confiscated. They contained
Trial
The trials of the four men that were charged with attempted terrorism started in September 2007. Not all information from the trials was made public to protect methods used by the intelligence service. On 10 September, the suspected leader of the group, Muhammad Zaher, confirmed that he, in fact, had been producing the explosive TATP, although he claimed it had been only as an experiment.[8]
Defence
The defence claimed that the PET mole organized and encouraged the plot.[4] Additionally, he apparently had previous bad experience with Muslims and thereby was not a credible witness according to the defence.[5]
Verdict
Three were convicted and one was acquitted. Among the convicted, the two leaders, Ahmad Khaldahi and Muhammad Zaher, were given eleven-year prison sentences, while Abdallah Andersen got four years. The prosecutor appealed the sentences of those convicted. In 2008, the
References
- ^ a b c d "Udvist terrordømt fra Vollsmose: Han må blive i Danmark". Fyens Stiftstidende (in Danish). 12 June 2018. Retrieved 13 December 2019.
- ^ a b c "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.
- ^ a b c
Terror suspects maintain innocence Archived 25 September 2007 at the Copenhagen Post, 31 October 2006
- ^ a b
Reliability of key terror witness questioned Archived 27 September 2007 at the Copenhagen Post, 20 April 2007
- ^ "TE-SAT 2007: EU Terrorism Situation & Trend Report". Europol. p. 19. Retrieved 15 August 2020.
- ^
Cartoons possible terror motive Archived 13 May 2007 at the Copenhagen Post, 10 May 2007
- ^ "Terrortiltalt indrømmer - jeg har lavet TATP". DR. Archived from the original on 19 November 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2015.