On August 24th, the court case began in Holbæk, Denmark, against three people charged with planning a terror attack. From the national broadcaster Danmarks Radio:
The three are accused of planning a bomb attack, although the police cannot say if was supposed to take place in Denmark or abroad. The accused are a married couple—a 31-year-old woman and a 35-year-old man—and the man’s 37-year-old brother. They have all pleaded not guilty.
According to the newspaper BT, this is one of the largest terror-related court cases in Danish history. It is the culmination of an 18-month-long investigation by the national police and PET, the domestic security service.
It started with police executing search warrants in February 2021 against multiple homes in Holbæk, which is 65 kilometers (40 miles) west of Copenhagen, and Gentofte, just north of the Danish capital.
During the searches, the police found chemicals suitable for bomb manufacturing. According to the police report, there was enough material to build so-called IEDs, improvised explosive devices, of 12 kilograms (26.5lbs) or more, and to equip them with steel balls.
At the opening of the court case, the prosecutor revealed further evidence against the trio. Danmarks Radio again:
A Scorpion machine gun was hidden in a lady’s bag under a bed, while a sight-equipped rifle was found in a shed. According to the prosecutor, the rifle was stolen from a private home in 2012.
The prosecutor also listed other seized items, including communications equipment, flashlights, and a bag outfitted with a camera.
The court case is expected to last up to 30 days, with some of the deliberations being held behind closed doors to protect information related to national security, as well as to conceal the identity of certain witnesses.
