Danish man faces preliminary terrorism charges for arson at Jewish woman's home

Copenhagen, Denmark, September 10, 2024. A 21-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of arson at the home of a Jewish woman in Copenhagen and is facing preliminary court charges under Danish terrorism laws. If convicted, he could face life imprisonment (usually 16 years in prison).

On May 29, the man and several other unidentified suspects set fire to balcony furniture at the Jewish woman's home. Although the fire spread, it was extinguished by firefighters and no one was injured. According to a court order, the names of the suspect and the victim are not being released for the time being. Danish media attending the court hearing said that the man pleaded not guilty through his defense lawyer, and the rest of the hearing was held in closed session.

The Danish Security and Intelligence Service said the suspect is linked to "Loyal to Familia," a Danish gang mainly composed of immigrants that was banned in 2021. Finn Borch Andersen, head of the security agency, said it is serious if someone becomes the target of a terrorist attack in Denmark because of their Jewish background, and it is worrying to see a link to this gang again in a terrorism case. In December 2023, Denmark and Germany announced the arrest of several terrorism suspects, including alleged Hamas members, suspected of planning attacks on European Jews and Jewish institutions. The Danish police said that three of those arrested are related to criminal gangs, specifically pointing out the "Loyal to Familia" gang. Borch Andersen said it is too early to assess whether this incident is an isolated event or a broader development of the terrorism threat. The Danish Jewish community has called the attack "frightening." Borch Andersen said that security agencies have warned of an increased terrorism threat against Danish Jews and Israeli targets, especially in light of the conflict between Israel and Gaza.