Alleged 2007 bomb plot in Copenhagen

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Alleged 2007 bomb plot in Copenhagen
Location Copenhagen, Denmark
Date 4 September 2007
Attack type attempted Bombing
Weapon(s) explosive cocktail
Injured 0
Suspected perpetrator(s) possibly al-Qaeda

On September 4, 2007 eight people suspected of planning a terror attack were arrested by armed Danish police officers and Security Intelligence Service agents in several coordinated actions throughout the greater Copenhagen area.

Police, accompanied by bomb experts, searched 11 homes and detained the eight men, who are described as militant islamists with direct connections to international groups such as Al-Qaida. Information about possible targets has been withheld due to the on-going nature of the investigation.[1]

Contents

[edit] Suspects

The eight suspects, between 19 and 29 years old, were of Afghan, Pakistani, Somali and Turkish origin. Six are reportedly Danish citizens.[2] According to the BBC, six of the eight were released after questioning. Two suspects (see below) have been remanded to custody for 27 days. Their names have not been released to the public.

The locations of the arrests are below. At Glasvej in the northwest of Copenhagen:[3]

  • HK: A man aged 21, of Pakistani origin. Remanded to custody for 27 days.
  • XK: A man aged between 24 and 25, of Pakistani origin.

At Landlysstien in Ishøj:

  • XA: A man aged 19, of Turkish origin.

In Hvidovre, at Bymuren and Rebslagerporten in Avedøre:

  • AT: A man aged between 18 and 20, of Pakistani origin.
  • ST: A teenager aged 15-16, of Pakistani origin, and the younger brother of AT.
  • AGT: A man aged 21, of Afghani origin. He was arrested at his apartment in Rebslagerporten. Remanded to custody for 27 days.

The location of where the two last arrested is not known at the time:

  • NN: A man aged between 19 and 29, of Somali origin.
  • NN: A man aged between 19 and 29, of either Pakistani, Afghan, Turkish or Somali origin.

[edit] Investigation

The suspects had been under surveillance for an extended period of time and the arrests were the result of a months-long investigation.[4]

After the arrests it was announced that Matas, Denmark largest drug store chain, is co-operating with domestic Security Intelligence Service to keep tabs on the sale of substances that can be used to make bombs for terrorist attacks. Common household items such as acetone, saltpetre and hydrogen peroxide can - when mixed with other substances - be used to create an explosive cocktail. Sales of more than two containers of the substances on a list compiled to any one customer is registered by the shop's employees on a special form. The information is then passed on to the police. Matas has instituted the new rules at all its 292 shops across the country.[5]

[edit] Charges

The suspects were arraigned on charges of planning a terrorist attack and accused of storing unstable explosives, possibly TATP.[6]

[edit] Possible targets

Information about possible targets has been withheld due to the on-going nature of the investigation. However, one of the targets the terrorist may have planned to attack was Nørreport station, the busiest train station in Denmark that serves 300,000 people a day.[7]

The terrorist attack was possibly a response to the Danish involvement in the 2003 invasion of Iraq, the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan and the 2005-2006 Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy.[8]

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Arrests 'prevented' terrorist bombing", The Copenhagen Post, 2007-09-04. Retrieved on 2007-09-04. 
  2. ^ "Denmark arrests 'bomb' suspects", BBC News, 2007-09-05. Retrieved on 2007-09-07. 
  3. ^ Ellegaard, Carsten; Morten Vestergaard. "Anholdte overvåget i månedsvis", Morgenavisen Jyllands-Posten, 2007-09-05. Retrieved on 2007-09-07. (Dannish) 
  4. ^ "Terror arrests made", The Copenhagen Post, 2007-09-04. Retrieved on 2007-09-04. 
  5. ^ "Drug store helps in terror fight", The Copenhagen Post, 2007-09-06. Retrieved on 2007-09-09. 
  6. ^ "Danish arrests 'prevent terrorism'", CNN Europe, 2007-09-04. Retrieved on 2007-09-04. 
  7. ^ Berg Sævereid, Harald. "- Hadde blitt et blodbad", Verdens Gang, 2007-09-05. Retrieved on 2007-09-07. (Norwegian) 
  8. ^ Andersen, Ingunn. "- Muhammedstriden gjorde Danmark til terrormål", Verdens Gang, 2007-09-05. Retrieved on 2007-09-07. (Norwegian)