Country Report on Terrorism 2023 - Chapter 1 - Denmark

Overview:  The Kingdom of Denmark, which includes the semiautonomous constituent regions of Greenland and the Faroe Islands, remains an important partner in the global fight against terrorism.  As an active participant in the Global Counterterrorism Forum, Denmark cooperates closely with the United States on counterterrorism initiatives.  Denmark devotes significant assets to CT programs and countering violent extremism initiatives.

According to the Center for Terror Analysis (CTA), administered by the Danish National Police’s Security and Intelligence Service (PET), the terrorism threat to Denmark remains “significant,” the fourth of a five-level ranking system (minimal, limited, general, significant, very significant).  CTA characterizes the terrorism threat to Greenland and the Faroe Islands as “minimal.”

CTA assesses that the primary threat to Denmark is an attack or attacks perpetrated by individuals in Denmark and abroad who sympathize with and are inspired by what CTA labels “militant Islamist terrorist groups,” including ISIS and al-Qa’ida.  Terrorism threats throughout 2023 were characterized by an increased use of encrypted communications.

CTA assesses the domestic terrorist threat from “right wing” violent extremists as “general,” from anti-establishment violent extremists as “limited,” and from “left wing” violent extremists as “minimal.”

2023 Terrorist Incidents:  There were no terrorist incidents reported in 2023.

Legislation, Law Enforcement, and Border Security:  There were no changes to CT legislation in 2023.

The Danish National Police (Politi) is responsible for law enforcement and security services in all regions governed by the Kingdom of Denmark, while the Danish Defense Intelligence Service (DDIS) handles foreign intelligence activities.  The collective authorities share responsibility for preventing terrorist attacks against Danish interests in the Kingdom and overseas.  Legislation regulates exchange of information between PET and DDIS.  Efforts to counter terrorism are also shared with the Public Prosecution Service and the Danish Prison and Probation Service.  Danish security and law enforcement information is shared through CTA, which – as the Danish government’s intelligence center – constitutes the focal point for reporting from the Danish National Police, DDIS, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Danish Emergency Management Agency.  Politi’s National Special Crimes Unit investigates and prosecutes organized, financial, cyber, and trafficking-in-persons crimes.

In February the Kolding District Court sentenced a 38-year-old woman to four years in prison under Chapter 13 of the Criminal Code for having traveled to a war zone in Syria and for acting as a housewife for a person active within ISIS, thus having promoted terrorist activities.  In March the Frederiksberg District Court sentenced a 33-year-old woman to four years in prison for the same charges.  These were the second and third sentences for the three Danish women who were previously repatriated to Denmark together with their 14 children.  The third woman was sentenced to four years in prison for the same charges in December 2022.

Denmark repatriated one woman and two children from northeast Syria in June, but three Danish children remain in Syria with their two mothers, one of whom was stripped of Danish citizenship and thus initially deemed ineligible for repatriation to Denmark. The mothers have not consented to their children being repatriated to Denmark without them. The courts restored the citizenship of the mother with two children, though she has refused repatriation to date due to concerns she would be separated from her children via imprisonment upon her arrival in Denmark

In August, PET instituted temporary intensified land border security measures with Sweden and Germany in response to a series of public Quran burnings that the government assessed had contributed to an increased terrorism threat.  Al Qa’ida’s August 15 call for revenge against Denmark and Sweden for the Quran burnings served as a prominent element of the increased threat.  The government in October reintroduced the border security measures at the German border for six months.  In December the government passed the “Quran Law,” banning the improper treatment of significant religious texts.  The government will evaluate the law’s impact after a three-year period.

In November the government agreed on a multiyear financing boost for the Danish court system to decrease case processing times, improve IT systems, and increase capacity.

In December the government passed a law guaranteeing victims of terrorism abroad the right to compensation under the Victim Compensation Act.  The law excepts cases where there is sufficient reason to assume the injured party, during their stay abroad, engaged in actions related to terrorism.

On December 14, PET arrested three persons in Copenhagen and Aarhus as part of a larger operation, disrupting the preparation of a terrorist act.  PET stated that the disrupted plot had links to the gang environment and people who reside both in Denmark and abroad, further noting that the arrests were made in close cooperation with foreign partners.

Denmark is a member of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, which requires broad CT partnership, including routine information sharing and border screening cooperation.

Countering the Financing of Terrorism:  Denmark is a member of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), and its Financial Intelligence Unit, the Money Laundering Secretariat, is a member of the Egmont Group.  There were no significant changes in 2023.

Countering Violent Extremism:  The Center for Documentation and Counter Extremism is responsible for preventing “extremism” nationally, locally, and virtually.  The center regularly publishes research, provides advice, and supports collaborations on the prevention of “extremism.”  In 2023 the center’s research included the role antisemitism can play in leading to violent extremism, the status of “extremism” prevention in Danish municipalities, and citizens’ attitudes toward efforts against violent extremism.  In December, CTA published a report suggesting a rise in “extremist” youths could increase the terrorism threat against Denmark over the long term.

The Ministry for Immigration and Integration added the Russian Imperial Movement and Sheikh Eid Bin Mohammad Al Thani Charitable Association (Eid Charity) in 2023 to its list of foreign entities barred from sending financial donations to recipients in Denmark because they are deemed to “oppose or undermine democracy and fundamental freedoms and human rights” in accordance with the law.  Other entities on the list include the organizations Revival of Islamic Heritage Society, the International Islamic Charity Organization, and Assalam Charity, along with one individual, Rashed Sad Rashed Ali Alolaimi, a religious leader banned from entering the country because officials deem his presence a threat to public order.

International and Regional Cooperation:  Much of Denmark’s multilateral engagement to prevent and combat terrorism is guided by the UN’s Global Counterterrorism Strategy.

Denmark contributed a Force Protection Company to NATO Mission Iraq throughout 2023.  The 15 soldiers escorted and protected NATO advisers during meetings with Iraqi partners.  Denmark further provided administrative, logistics, and management support to personnel and units in the mission area.  Denmark contributed to Operation Inherent Resolve in 2023, contributing 24 staff to the coalition’s regional headquarters.  Four Danish cities – Aarhus, Copenhagen, Gentofte, and Guldborgsund – are members of the Strong Cities Network.  Denmark is a donor to the preventing-and-countering-violent-terrorism-focused Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund.

Denmark continued to strongly support counterterrorism efforts in regional and multilateral organizations, including through its membership in the following:

• The European Union
• The Global Counterterrorism Forum
• NATO
• The Council of Europe
• The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
• INTERPOL
• Club de Berne
• The European Counterterrorism Center
• The United Nations
• The Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS – as a member of several Defeat-ISIS Coalition working groups, including the FTF Working Group; the Stabilization Working Group; the Communications Working Group; and the Counter-ISIS Finance Group.