Defense ministry warns of ‘serious’ threat of terrorism, says police resources have been stretched thin by public response to Israel’s war against Hamas
https://www.timesofisrael.com/denma...o-protect-jewish-sites-as-antisemitism-rises/COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Denmark will deploy army units to protect Jewish and Israeli sites in Copenhagen in response to an increase in antisemitism in the wake of Hamas’s October 7 terror onslaught and the subsequent war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, government officials said Sunday.
“The conflict in the Middle East has led to an absolutely unacceptable increase in antisemitism and insecurity for Jews in Denmark,” Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard said.
“We’re in a situation where the terrorist threat hanging over Denmark is serious.”
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The defense ministry said the Gaza conflict was taking a heavy toll on police resources, with several protests being held at a time when Quran burnings by anti-immigrant or anti-extremist groups have stoked tensions.
“In this context… armed forces will support the surveillance of Jewish and Israeli sites in Copenhagen,” such as synagogues or the Israeli embassy, it said.
The defense ministry said the Gaza conflict was taking a heavy toll on police resources, with several protests being held at a time when Quran burnings by anti-immigrant or anti-extremist groups have stoked tensions.
“In this context… armed forces will support the surveillance of Jewish and Israeli sites in Copenhagen,” such as synagogues or the Israeli embassy, it said.
The deployment will begin on December 6.
Supporters of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party burn the effigy of Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in Karachi on July 23, 2023, as they protest against the burning of the Quran in Sweden and Denmark. (Rizwan Tabassum/AFP)
The country counts an estimated 6,000 to 8,000 Jews, according to the independent Utrikespolitiska Research Institute.
