2023 Danish terror plot

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On 14 December 2023, Danish police arrested three people and charged a further four in absensia for conspiring to commit a terrorist attack in Denmark. One of the four was arrested in the Netherlands, but released. Five out of Denmark's 15 police departments took part in the operation.{{Efn|These were the departments of Copenhagen, Vestegnen, East Jutland, Funen, and Middle and West Jutland.}} The three arrested in Denmark, two men and a younger woman, were put before preliminary questioning at around 7 pm.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-14 |title=Syv mistænkes i sag om planlægning af terrorangreb |url=https://www.bt.dk/content/item/1729656 |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=www.bt.dk |language=da}} The judge ruled to give the defendants name protection and for the case to take place behind so-called "double closed doors",{{Cite web |last1=Jørgenssen |first1=Steen A. |last2=Benzon |first2=Rane von |date=2023-12-14 |title=Dommer lukker dørene: To mænd og en ung kvinde anholdt for terrorplaner - flere er på fri fod |url=https://jyllands-posten.dk/indland/ECE16688459/dommer-lukker-doerene-to-maend-og-en-ung-kvinde-anholdt-for-terrorplaner-flere-mistaenkte-er-paa-fri-fod/ |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=Jyllands-Posten |language=da}} meaning the public will be restrained from access.{{Cite web |title=Ret godt at vide |url=https://retgodtatvide.dk/ |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=Domstolsstyrelsen |language=da-DK |archive-date=12 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191212202046/https://retgodtatvide.dk/ |url-status=live }} The plot has been linked to the Danish gang Loyal to Familia.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-14 |title=Forsker: Første gang bandemiljøet sættes i forbindelse med terror |url=https://www.bt.dk/content/item/1729630 |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=www.bt.dk |language=da |archive-date=15 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215155140/https://www.bt.dk/krimi/forsker-foerste-gang-bandemiljoeet-saettes-i-forbindelse-med-terror |url-status=live }}

Background

In March 2023, the PET released its annual report on the threat of terrorism against Denmark, emphasising the threat of religious terrorism as well as increased political polarization leading to conspiracy theories becoming more normal,{{Cite web |date=2023-03-28 |title=Ny PET-rapport fremhæver to slags trusler – den ene er ny - TV 2 |url=https://nyheder.tv2.dk/samfund/2023-03-28-ny-pet-rapport-fremhaever-to-slags-trusler-den-ene-er-ny |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328174743/https://nyheder.tv2.dk/samfund/2023-03-28-ny-pet-rapport-fremhaever-to-slags-trusler-den-ene-er-ny |archive-date=28 March 2023 |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=nyheder.tv2.dk |language=da-DK}} while the Centre for Terror Analysis (Center for Terroranalyse, CTA), stated that the Danish terror threat remained "severe". The day before the arrests, the PET had released another report, stating that the terror threat level had increased due to the outbreak of the Gaza war in October.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-13 |title=Trusselsbilledet er det alvorligste siden Den Kolde Krig, vurderer FE - TV 2 |url=https://nyheder.tv2.dk/samfund/2023-12-13-trusselsbilledet-er-det-alvorligste-siden-den-kolde-krig-vurderer-fe |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215155154/https://nyheder.tv2.dk/samfund/2023-12-13-trusselsbilledet-er-det-alvorligste-siden-den-kolde-krig-vurderer-fe |archive-date=15 December 2023 |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=nyheder.tv2.dk |language=da-DK}}

Arrests

Copenhagen Police and the Danish Security and Intelligence Service published a press release, calling for a press conference to be held at 1 pm due to the arrest of individuals for "suspicion of preparation for a terrorist attack".{{Cite web |title=Københavns Politi og PET indkalder til pressebriefing om koordineret politiaktion {{!}} Nyheder {{!}} Københavns Politi |url=https://politi.dk/koebenhavns-politi/nyhedsliste/koebenhavns-politi-og-pet-indkalder-til-pressebriefing-om-koordineret-politiaktion/2023/12/14 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214100422/https://politi.dk/koebenhavns-politi/nyhedsliste/koebenhavns-politi-og-pet-indkalder-til-pressebriefing-om-koordineret-politiaktion/2023/12/14 |archive-date=14 December 2023 |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=politi.dk |language=da}} Before the press conference, the chairmen of the political parties in the Folketing as well as members of the Jewish community were briefed on the situation,{{Cite web |date=2023-12-14 |title=Mistanke om forberedelse af angreb: Mette Frederiksen kalder terroranholdelser en »uhyre alvorlig sag« |url=https://politiken.dk/danmark/ret/art9664249/Mette-Frederiksen-kalder-terroranholdelser-en-%C2%BBuhyre-alvorlig-sag%C2%AB |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214124947/https://politiken.dk/danmark/ret/art9664249/Mette-Frederiksen-kalder-terroranholdelser-en-%C2%BBuhyre-alvorlig-sag%C2%AB |archive-date=14 December 2023 |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=Politiken |language=da-DK}} with Danish prime minister Mette Frederiksen stating, "This is as serious as it gets".{{Cite web |date=2023-12-14 |title=Politikerne reagerer på antiterroraktion: "Det her er så alvorligt, som det kan blive" |url=https://www.altinget.dk/artikel/politikerne-reagerer-paa-antiterroraktion-det-her-er-saa-alvorligt-som-det-kan-blive |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215155143/https://www.altinget.dk/artikel/politikerne-reagerer-paa-antiterroraktion-det-her-er-saa-alvorligt-som-det-kan-blive |archive-date=15 December 2023 |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=Altinget.dk}} Police increased its presence in the Danish capital Copenhagen with special attention towards Jewish sites.{{Cite web |last=Synnestvedt |first=Anne Meisner |date=2023-12-14 |title=Efter terroraktion sender jødisk forening et brev til sine medlemmer: Vær »agtpågivende« i det offentlige rum |url=https://www.berlingske.dk/content/item/1765846 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215155140/https://www.berlingske.dk/samfund/efter-terroraktion-sender-joedisk-forening-et-brev-til-sine-medlemmer-vaer |archive-date=15 December 2023 |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=Berlingske.dk |language=da}} Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that several persons "operat[ing] on behalf of" the Palestinian political and military organisation Hamas were involved in the plot.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-14 |title=Israel: Mistænkte med Hamas-bånd var del af terrorplan |url=https://jyllands-posten.dk/international/ECE16687988/israel-mistaenkte-med-hamasbaand-var-del-af-terrorplan/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214153058/https://jyllands-posten.dk/international/ECE16687988/israel-mistaenkte-med-hamasbaand-var-del-af-terrorplan/ |archive-date=14 December 2023 |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=Jyllands-Posten |language=da}} On the same day, four Hamas members were arrested in Germany as well as a 57-year old man from Rotterdam, the Netherlands. With initial speculation of a potential link, the PET stated that there was no "direct connection" between the three arrests in Denmark and those in Germany, while the 57-year old was "not identical" to the person arrested in the Netherlands in the Danish case.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-14 |title=Flere anholdt i aktion - mistænkes for at forberede terrorangreb - TV 2 |url=https://nyheder.tv2.dk/live/2023-12-14-flere-anholdt-i-aktion-mistaenkes-for-at-forberede-terrorangreb |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214181230/https://nyheder.tv2.dk/live/2023-12-14-flere-anholdt-i-aktion-mistaenkes-for-at-forberede-terrorangreb |archive-date=14 December 2023 |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=nyheder.tv2.dk |language=da-DK}}

At least one arrest was carried out in the Aarhus neighbourhood of Gellerup.{{Cite web |title=Aktioner flere steder i Danmark: Afspærring ophævet i Aarhus {{!}} avisendanmark.dk |url=https://stiften.dk/alarm112/flere-anholdt-mistanke-om-terror-banegaarden-i-aarhus-spaerret-af |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214115237/https://stiften.dk/alarm112/flere-anholdt-mistanke-om-terror-banegaarden-i-aarhus-spaerret-af |archive-date=14 December 2023 |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=stiften.dk |date=14 December 2023 |language=da}}{{Cite web |date=2023-12-14 |title=PET og politiet bekræfter: Tre personer anholdt og sigtet for terror |url=https://migogaarhus.dk/pet-og-politiet-bekraefter-tre-personer-anholdt-og-sigtet-for-terror/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231215155142/https://migogaarhus.dk/pet-og-politiet-bekraefter-tre-personer-anholdt-og-sigtet-for-terror/ |archive-date=15 December 2023 |access-date=2023-12-14 |language=da-DK}} Coincidentally, a major police evacuation of Aarhus Central Station, the biggest railway station in Jutland, unfolded during the day, sparking initial speculation of causation, but turned out to be non-related.{{Cite web |title=Bombetrussel førte til afspærring af Banegårdspladsen i Aarhus {{!}} Nyheder {{!}} Østjyllands Politi |url=https://politi.dk/oestjyllands-politi/nyhedsliste/bombetrussel-foerte-til-afspaerring-af-banegaardspladsen-i-aarhus/2023/12/14 |access-date=2023-12-15 |website=politi.dk |language=da}}{{Cite web |date=2023-12-14 |title=Politiet hæver afspærringen i Aarhus efter bombetrussel: Intet mistænkeligt fundet |url=https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/seneste/politiet-har-afspaerret-plads-ved-banegaarden-i-aarhus |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214171546/https://www.dr.dk/nyheder/seneste/politiet-har-afspaerret-plads-ved-banegaarden-i-aarhus |archive-date=14 December 2023 |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=DR |language=da-DK}}{{Cite web |date=2023-12-14 |title=Politiet evakuerer Aarhus Banegård: Mulig bombetrussel |url=https://www.seoghoer.dk/krimi/politiet-evakuerer-aarhus-banegaard-mulig-bombetrussel |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214104442/http://www.seoghoer.dk/krimi/politiet-evakuerer-aarhus-banegaard-mulig-bombetrussel |archive-date=14 December 2023 |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=SE og HØR |language=da}}

Suspects

One of the men was arrested at 05:01 while the young woman was arrested at 05:05. Apart from the three arrested, four others were charged in absentia. On 15 December, one of those four, a young woman from Odense, was arrested after landing in Copenhagen following a charter holiday in Southern Europe.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-20 |title=Kvinde fængslet in absentia i terrorsag er anholdt - TV 2 |url=https://nyheder.tv2.dk/krimi/2023-12-20-kvinde-faengslet-in-absentia-i-terrorsag-er-anholdt |access-date=2023-12-21 |website=nyheder.tv2.dk |language=da-DK}} Three people remain at large. The one man arrested in the Netherlands was released.