Danish police have announced increased border controls with Sweden and Germany to combat crime, particularly following recent events in Copenhagen and Stockholm. State authorities have assessed the risk of terrorism as very high. Recently, Danish police arrested several Swedish youths on charges such as shooting and throwing hand grenades in Copenhagen. This comes amid a growing trend of Swedish teenagers and young adults being hired by their Danish counterparts to carry out crimes in Copenhagen, as stated in the announcement.
Police are stepping up their efforts in border areas.
The National Police, after discussions with several police departments and the General Intelligence Service, decided to strengthen its efforts on and around the borders.
The decision was made to strengthen visible and preventative police efforts to combat crime in areas near the border in light of the events that took place in recent days in Copenhagen and Stockholm.
“Unfortunately, recent developments confirm that the terrorist threat against Denmark is serious. We are closely monitoring the current situation, assessing the overall threat picture and continuously implementing the necessary security measures,” according to National Police Chief Inspector Peter Ekberg.
The enhanced police efforts are focused on preventing crimes that pose a danger to people, and will be carried out through random inspections of vehicles and travelers at the borders with Sweden and Germany.
The enhanced efforts will affect Copenhagen police and North Zealand police with regard to the border with Sweden, and will mean that police will be more present in several places, including the Øresund Bridge, as well as many cars, trains and ferries coming from Sweden, in the coming period.
The police in the South and South Jutland, as well as the police in South Zealand and Lolland Falster, will simultaneously have a similarly enhanced focus as part of the current temporary border control towards Germany.
This is a temporary measure, and the police will continuously assess the need for it.
The statement has ended.
