Denmark 2025
05/02/2025: A 42-year-old man from Herlev was found guilty by the Glostrup Court sentenced to 40 days of suspended imprisonment with one year of probation for aproving a the terrorist attack committed by Hamas in Israel on comments written between October 7 and 11, 2023. The first post was a reply to Ekstra Bladet's Facebook page stating: "That's not enough. Fire off a couple hundred thousand extra". Although he was acquitted for this comment he was nonetheless condemned for the second post on the Facebook page with the caption "Do you understand those who participate in pro-Palestinian demonstrations these days?" to which he replied: "Yes, I understand them and participate in the demos and support financially" followed by two hashtags: "#Free Palestine" and "#07OctoberCelebrationday". The latter was considered to be endorsement of terrorism rather than a mere call to the liberation of Palestine. (Source)
14/02/2025: Controversial imam Abu Bilal, who is a well-known imam in the Islamist ecosystem, preached at the Khayr el-Barriya Grand Mosque in Copenhagen located on Rovsingsgade in Ydre Nørrebro. However, according to Islam scholar Thomas Hoffmann, Abu Bilal is a major reason Danish authorities promulgated the so-called "Imam Act" back in 2016 that makes it illegal to condone terror, violence and sexual abuse of children as part of religious education after he was recorded with a hidden camera, preaching in a study group at the mosque on Grimhøjvej in Aarhus the stoning and flogging of adulterous women for a TV2 documentary "Moskeerne bag sløret" broadcasted in February 2016. Moreover, the Grimhøjvej mosque's chairman Oussama El Saadi, declared in a Danmarks Radio documentary broadcasted in January 2015 that he supports IS and even praised Danish convert and IS fighter Victor Kristensen who carried out a suicide attack in Iraq, where several people were killed. Prior to that, Abu Bilal was convicted of calling for the murder of Zionist Jews in 2014 during a preach in Berlin and fined 75,000 kroner. Hoffman previously suggested that Abu Ali manages to remain off the hook by preserving ambiguity in his interpretations of Islamic Law that should be understood as a way of articulating the dream of the ideal Islamic legal system. On the one hand, the imam acknowledges that stoning is not part of the law of this society. But from his perspective, stoning should be permitted in the best of all worlds, namely the Islamic one. (Source)
Imam Abu Ali subsequently reacted to the controversy with a press release on March 9, 2025 in which he dismissed all the charges against him as "lies" and stated that he will "now take matters into his own hands". He claims that his controversial teachings merely consisted in presenting the Islamic laws as they are spelled in the Quran but never by promoting violence and that he did not mean to call for the killing of Jews but instead prayed God to eliminate those who were opressing Palestinians. (Source)
24/02/2025: The extremist Telegram group, "Rise O Muslim", that was already reported in December 2023, is still stirring concerns as not much has been done since to dismantle this network. Furthermore, it is now reported by Danish media B.T. that the members of the chat are indulging into recruitment of potential fighters for Syria and vow to "destroy Denmark and the entire West". The death of Quran burner Salwan Momika in Sweden in January 2025 was also praised by the members. Swedish Islamist terrorism expert Magnus Ranstorp deemed the group to "potentially pose a threat" however PET does not seem to react much over this matter despite being well aware of the online radicalization of Muslims: "The Center for Terror Analysis assesses that the primary meeting places for militant Islamists in the West are no longer in the physical world, but are increasingly found virtually". A representative of the group named Muhammad Abu Safiyyah and contacted by B.T. denied that Rise O Muslim poses any threat to Danish citizens and instead claims that they merely struggle to overthrow the Western dominion over Muslim lands. Nonetheless, he still states that "by the way, all Muslims are 'Jihadists' according to the Danish definition, as the definition not only includes people who actively participate in armed struggle, but also people who simply support it, which all Muslims do". (Source)
Former imam Mohammad Khani posted pictures of himself on his Instagram account attending the funeral of Hezbollah former leader, Hassan Nasrallah who was killed by an Israel airstrike on September 27, 2024 and was involved in several terrorist operations carried out by his organization. Hezbollah is classified as a terrorist organization by both the EU and the US. Ironically, Imam Khani was acquitted in August 2024 in a case of condoning Hamas terrorist attack in October 2023. (Source)
09/03/2025: The Telegram channel "Rise O Muslim" was reported to have been shut down. This happened in the aftermath of the investigations of B.T. which exposed in February 2025 all the virulence and the dangerousness of the profiles involved in the "extreme Islamist" encrypted chat "with a military orientation", with the alarming comments of Swedish Islamist terrorism expert Magnus Ranstorp. This report triggered an uprecented wave of indignation and outburst within the political landscape who called for hasty intervention from Danish authorities against the chat. However, Muhammad Abu Safiyyah, the group representative B.T. was in touch with, stated thats the former 800 members of Rise O Muslims already started to gather within alternative channels which implies that, beyond merely deleting the chat, Danish authorities did not thoroughly and convincingly took this matter in charge as extremists are still roaming free and sustaining their network through other means. (Source)
17/03/2025: Danish PET and Center for Terrorism Analysis published the "Online Platforms and Extremist Environments in Denmark 2025" report that analyzes the influence of digital platforms on communication, organization, and radicalization within Danish extremist milieus, Islamist and Far-Right alike. The study shows that technological progress and the widespread use of online platforms have profoundly transformed modes of communication and social behavior, including within extremist circles. These groups use the Internet to disseminate propaganda, recruit members, coordinate activities, and maintain transnational connections. Online communication removes physical barriers and fosters anonymity, allowing a greater number of individuals, including minors, to be exposed to or involved in such environments. Popular platforms are used for propaganda and initial recruitment, while more closed and encrypted spaces serve internal communication and advanced radicalization. The combination of anonymity, mobility across forums, and techniques such as tactical crossposting makes these networks more resilient to monitoring and content removal efforts. Online behavior is characterized by disinhibition and a blending of extremist and non-extremist content, which contributes to the normalization of radical discourse. Practices such as LARPing, shitposting, or the use of implicit codes facilitate the indirect spread of hateful messages. Platform algorithms amplify these phenomena by locking users into echo chambers. Artificial intelligence technologies and gamification play an increasing role. AI enables the automatic creation and translation of propaganda material, the masking of extremist content, and the production of visually engaging, and sometimes falsified, media. Gamification, by integrating playful elements, enhances the immersion of young audiences and has already inspired certain perpetrators of terrorist attacks. The online recruitment process is described as a funnel: initial exposure to moderate content on public platforms gradually leads individuals toward more restricted and encrypted spaces where violent material or attack manuals circulate. PET estimates that this dynamic heightens the risk of radicalization among young people and minors, increases the spread of extremist propaganda even within mainstream digital environments (such as TikTok, Instagram, and Roblox), and could ultimately strengthen the terrorist threat. Finally, the report emphasizes that the use of online platforms does not replace physical interactions but complements them. The virtual and real dimensions are now interwoven. This evolution presents new challenges for authorities in terms of prevention, detection, and counter-radicalization, while making certain extremist environments more resistant to state intervention. This technological shift requires Danish authorities to rethink their prevention and detection methods to adequately address this shifting and sophisticated threat. (Source)
23/04/2025: Mohamed Hassan Ahmed, the 27-year-old man who was arrested in May 2023 for his ties with individuals affiliated to IS and spreading terrorist propaganda content on social networks between October 2017 and May 2023, was sentenced by the Frederiksberg Court to six years and six months of prison for utter violation of Section 114 e of the Criminal Code. He has been in custody since his arrest. The trial started on April 10, 2025 and Ahmed pleaded guilty right away, which means the whole case was tried as a confession case. In addition to the prison sentence, Mohamed Hassan Ahmed has been expelled with a ban on ever entering Denmark again. Ahmed remained silent throughout the trial and it is not sure if he intends to appeal the verdict to the High Court. (Source)
24/04/2025: Danish authorities have finally published their 2025 Assessment of the Terrorist Threat to Denmark. This long-awaited updated version is quite alarming. The terrorist threat to Denmark remains at the serious level, which is level four out of five. Militant Islamist propaganda, especially from IS and Al-Qaeda, continues to radicalize and inspire individuals in the West, including Denmark. This propaganda often calls for attacks, naming both targets and methods, and includes both official media and content by sympathizers. Even older materials, especially from when IS controlled territory in Syria and Iraq, are still actively used. While older propaganda is more strategic, newer content is driven by current events and recent attacks. In 2024, propaganda has focused heavily on the conflict in the Middle East, portraying Westerners, Christians, Jews, and civilians as legitimate targets. Less attention has been paid to perceived insults to Islam compared to 2023, although such issues still figure prominently in four key narratives: Western support for Israel; Western military presence in the Middle East; perceived insults or desecrations of Islam and the portrayal of the West as representing un-Islamic values and lifestyles. These narratives are used to justify terrorist attacks, criticize Middle Eastern regimes, and shame Muslims in the West who do not act according to militant ideology. Both IS and Al-Qaeda have a long-standing hostility towards Jews and Israel, and they are currently leveraging the Middle East conflict in their propaganda. The report assesses that this, along with the broader mobilization potential of the conflict, increases the threat level to Jewish and Israeli targets in the West, including Denmark. Though no concrete attack plans have been discovered in 2024, Denmark remains a potential target, especially if new incidents perceived as insults to Islam gain attention again, as was the case with Quran desecrations in 2023.
The conflict has also introduced new actors and dynamics to the threat picture in Denmark. Historically, threats came from IS, Al-Qaeda, and their supporters, but now the report notes the presence of individuals and networks linked to other Islamist groups involved in the conflict. Some of these individuals may be connected to organized crime in Denmark and may use “Crime as a Service” methods if they plan attacks. Danish authorities believe these individuals would likely focus on Middle East-related targets rather than random civilians. A significant de-escalation of the conflict might demobilize those specifically radicalized by it. However, some individuals may remain radicalized regardless of the conflict’s outcome, potentially shifting to other Jihadist narratives. Sympathizers of IS and Al-Qaeda are unlikely to be affected by such de-escalation.
Recent developments in Syria could again attract militant Islamists from the West, including Denmark. A resurgent IS presence in Syria might become a magnet for sympathizers. People trying to travel abroad to join militant groups continue to be detected and prosecuted in the West. The assessment warns that those who are prevented from leaving or unable to travel may still pose a domestic threat. Some militant Islamists in Denmark have shown interest in leaving for conflict zones. While there is no destination currently as attractive as Syria/Iraq was between 2012–2016, risks persist. All adults who returned to Denmark from the conflict zone after 2016 have been prosecuted or convicted. For example, in October 2024, a woman and her child were repatriated from al-Roj camp, and the woman is facing charges under Denmark’s terrorism laws. Another woman, who returned before 2016, was charged in February 2025. The threat posed by these returnees or their children depends on their intent and capability, as well as how they are received and supported by Danish authorities, including whether they receive social and preventive care.
The terrorist threat from anti-authority extremism is also at a limited level, while the threat from Far-Right extremists remains general – level three out of five. (Source)
08/05/2025: The Court of Frederiksberg acquitted a 33-year-old woman of charges of supporting IS, more than a decade after living in Iraq and Syria with her husband and children as a housewife and wife of an IS member from September 2013 to August 2015. Her trial started on March 13, 2025 and the prosecution claimed she supported IS presence in Raqqa and Mosul, contributing to the group’s control in those regions. She traveled to Syria with her son to join her husband, who is now presumed dead. Although she was in IS territory, she was not charged with entering a conflict zone, as the Danish law banning such entry was passed in 2016, after she had returned. Despite calling herself "naive" for believing her husband, she pleaded not guilty, denying any promotion of IS and resumed studies while being involved in her community ever since she returned to Denmark. It is not entirely clear why the case has taken so long. As early as 2014, PET wiretapped the woman. On the recordings, they could hear her say that she wanted to travel to Syria. And after her return, PET interrogated her in 2015. The Copenhagen Police initiated the case only in 2022 after they found out her previous trips in IS territory. (Source)
19/05/2025: A 28-year-old man with ties to the gang environment has been remanded in custody on suspicion of participating in an attempted act of terrorism. According to the charges, he allegedly purchased drones intended for use by Hamas in a potential attack either in Denmark or elsewhere. The Frederiksberg Court judge ruled that there is reasonable suspicion and ordered his detention until June 11. The indictment claims that on November 7, 2023, the man, along with accomplices, bought three drones for over 280,000 kroner, which were to be used by Hamas. Although the man, believed by police to have held a leading position in the Loyal To Familia gang, denies the charges, his defense attorney announced that the decision will be appealed to the High Court. He remains in custody partly because of concerns that he might interfere with the ongoing police investigation. In December 2023, he was extradited from Lebanon in connection with a separate double murder case in Kalundborg and has been in custody since. The Danish PET took preventive action in December 2023 amid fears of a potential terrorist attack. Following the latest developments, PET's operational chief, Flemming Drejer, issued a public warning, emphasizing that any involvement of gang members in planning terrorist acts would draw the agency’s full attention. He expressed deep concern over the apparent links between the case and Hamas.
The drones were reportedly ordered online and delivered to a store in Copenhagen, where the suspect and his alleged accomplices collected them. The purchase occurred one month after Hamas’ attack in southern Israel, and authorities believe the drones were intended for use in an attack, though it remains unclear whether the target was Denmark or another country. Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard stressed in a written statement that the Danish government takes the situation very seriously and is prepared to provide the police and intelligence services with the necessary resources to prevent attacks from hostile actors. (Source)
11/06/2025: A 43-year-old man from Aabenraa was sentenced to 60 days in prison for expressing sympathy for Hamas' terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, in a Facebook post. According to the prosecutor, the man may avoid the sentence on condition that he performs community service. (Source)
01/07/2025: Following the arrest of a 53-year-old man living in the Aarhus area on June 26, 2025 by the East Jutland Police at the request of the German authorities who suspected him of spying activities on behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Danish PET stated that there are several instances of Iran using criminal networks, intermediaries, and individuals to plan attacks or target people in Europe. Iran is known to conduct intelligence activities against regime opponents among the Iranian diaspora in Europe, including in Denmark. The threat to these individuals does not come only directly from Iranian intelligence services but also from other actors connected to them such as criminal networks, intermediaries, and individuals in Europe to carry out acts of violence, including those aimed at Israeli and Jewish interests. The man arrested in Aarhus was remanded in custody until July 23, 2025 with a view to extradition to Germany. German authorities suspect him of conducting intelligence activities on behalf of an Iranian intelligence service, specifically collecting and passing on information to Iranian authorities concerning Jewish locations and specific Jewish individuals in Berlin. The man went through a constitutional hearing in Aarhus, where he consented to being extradited. Finn Borch Andersen, the chief of PET, stated that there have been attacks and violent acts in various parts of Europe believed to have been carried out on Iran’s behalf. He also noted that there have been previous Iranian activities in Denmark targeting dissidents. PET is maintaining close dialogue with its European partners and is taking the threat from Iran very seriously, while closely monitoring developments. The security situation has worsened in recent years, with PET assessing that State actors are playing an increasingly significant role in the threat landscape. Unlike militant Islamist groups, States have greater capacity to carry out actions that can be considered acts of terror and can also use proxies to execute them. The use of terror, potentially through proxies, is seen as a useful tool for a state engaged in a prolonged hybrid conflict, aiming to cause damage or demonstrate capability without escalating into open military confrontation. Finn Borch Andersen emphasized that States like Iran have considerable capacity and can use criminal networks or intermediaries, posing a serious threat even in Denmark. However, he urged that all Danes should continue living their lives as usual, reassuring them that PET is closely monitoring the situation and will implement necessary and relevant security measures. (Source)
02/09/2025: The Danish Supreme Court ruled that Ahmed Samsam was in Syria as an intelligence informant and not as an IS terrorist, thus confirming the latter's claims that were already supported by investigations carried out by journalists. Samsam was previously sentenced to eight years in prison in Spain back in 2018 for membership in a terrorist organization, but he kept denying the charges. Shortly after the Supreme Court's decision, Danish PET services ultimately admitted to cooperating with Samsam. Samsam plans to take the case to Spanish courts to overturn its original ruling. (Source)
A 29-year-old man received a suspended sentence of 45 days by the Glostrup Court for writing on Facebook that he had celebrated the Hamas' terrorist attack of October 7, 2023 "as if it were Christmas" by responding to another user's comment in a discussion thread on the Danish media outlet BT's page. (Source)
16/09/2025: The Næstved Court ruled on a case of public approval of Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, 2023 and sentenced a 60-year-old man to a five-month prison sentence for publicly approving a terrorist attack on Facebook. However, the sentence has been made conditional on the man performing 100 hours of community service. Regarding the Hamas attack, he wrote, among other things: "well they taste their own medicine". During the Court hearing, he pleaded not guilty, but he has chosen to accept the verdict, according to senior prosecutor Eva Madsen from the South Zealand and Lolland-Falster Police. (Source)
22/09/2025: A 30-year-old woman who had previously been sentenced in December 2024 by the Esbjerg Court for condoning terrorism and appealed the verdict, was sentenced by the Western High Court to an even harsher suspended sentence of 60 days instead of the 40 days verdict handed down by the previous trial. She rejoiced over the terrorist attack committed by Hamas on October 7, 2023 on Facebook but pleaded not guilty as she expressed support for the Palestinian people and not the terrorist attack or so she claimed. (Source)