Danish authorities have successfully disrupted a planned major terror attack, leading to the arrest of three individuals in Denmark and one in the Netherlands. The arrests were made during dawn raids on Thursday, with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen characterising the threat as “as serious as it gets.”
During a press conference, police did not disclose specific details of the alleged plot, citing the ongoing nature of the investigation. However, Police Chief Inspector Flemming Drejer informed reporters that the three individuals arrested in Denmark would face charges related to terrorism. The investigation revealed the existence of a transnational network with connections to criminal gangs, actively preparing for a terror attack.
In response to the foiled plot, security measures around Jewish sites in Denmark will be reinforced, and police patrols in Copenhagen will be increased, according to Drejer. The arrests were carried out with precision, coordinated down to the minute, as explained by former Copenhagen Police Deputy Inspector Jens Moller.
“They must take place simultaneously within a minute of each other – preferably 10-15 seconds,” Moller stated, emphasising the coordinated nature of the operations.
Danish intelligence chief Anja Dalgaard-Nielsen linked the terror threat to recent events, including the Israel-Gaza war and burnings of the Quran in Denmark and neighbouring Sweden. The complex nature of the network involved suggests a broader context, intertwining international terrorism and criminal elements.
The heightened terror threat comes in the wake of previous incidents in Denmark, such as the 2015 attack on a cultural centre and a synagogue in Copenhagen that resulted in two fatalities. The current terror threat level in Denmark stands at four out of five, the second-highest, indicating the severity of the situation.
The arrests and disruption of the alleged terror plot align with concerns expressed by EU Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson earlier this month, warning of a “huge risk of terrorist attacks” across Europe during the Christmas period. As investigations continue, Danish authorities remain vigilant, emphasising the need for increased security measures to safeguard the nation against potential threats.
Kiki Garba
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