Security authorities have arrested several terror suspects – three in Denmark, one in the Netherlands. They are said to be involved in preparations for attacks. There are also said to be connections to arrests in Germany.
Several suspects were arrested during an anti-terror operation in Denmark. The arrests came during raids in several parts of the country, Danish police and the secret service PET said. The investigators became active because of “suspicion of preparing a terrorist attack.”
Three people were taken into police custody, PET operational director Flemming Drejer said at a brief press conference in Copenhagen. The investigation revealed a network of people who were in the process of preparing a terrorist act, said Drejer. There are connections to the gang environment and abroad. He did not want to give further details about possible targets of the terrorist plans or the motive, nor about what was confiscated during the operation that morning.
Arrest in the Netherlands at the request of Germany
There was also another arrest in the Netherlands. According to the authorities there, it took place at Germany’s request. It was a 57-year-old resident of the city of Rotterdam who was arrested at the instigation of the German authorities, a police spokesman told the dpa news agency. The man is under investigation in Germany and the Federal Prosecutor’s Office is responsible. The Dutch police did not say what the investigation was about.
According to the Federal Prosecutor’s Office in Karlsruhe, there is a connection with three arrests in Berlin. Those arrested are suspected members of the radical Islamic Hamas and are suspected of wanting to locate a weapons depot and keep it ready for attacks on Jewish institutions.
Israel: Danish Terror suspects have connections to Hamas
According to the Israeli foreign intelligence service Mossad, those arrested in Denmark have connections to Hamas. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said they acted on behalf of the terrorist organization, citing the Mossad.
According to Israeli information, seven people were arrested in Denmark. The authorities had thus “thwarted an attack whose aim was to kill innocent civilians on European soil.”
The threat of terrorism in Denmark is classified as “critical”.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said the raids made clear “the situation we find ourselves in in Denmark.” It has been clear for several years “that there are people who live in Denmark who are not well disposed towards us, who are against our democracy, our freedom and Danish society,” said Frederiksen. The Danish secret service classifies the terrorist threat in the EU country as “critical”, which corresponds to the fourth level on a five-point scale.
The terror alert level was also recently raised in the Netherlands. The risk of an attack is currently classified as “significant” – this is the second highest warning category. The National Counterterrorism and Security Coordinator stated that “the violent conflict in Israel and the Palestinian territories, Koran desecrations in several European countries and calls for attacks by terrorist organizations have increased the threat of jihadism.”
Koran burnings in Denmark and Sweden
In Denmark, as in neighboring Sweden, there were repeated burnings of the Koran this summer. This led to tensions in the relationship between the two states and Muslim-dominated countries and also triggered riots. In July, almost a thousand demonstrators in Iraq marched to the Danish embassy in Baghdad in protest. The terrorist network Al-Qaeda had called for attacks against the two countries.
A week ago, the Danish parliament passed a law banning the burning of the Koran and other religious writings.