Danish police tighten borders due to concerns over Quran burnings

Controls on Denmark’s borders with Germany and Sweden will be tightened in response to security concerns related to recent demonstrations in Copenhagen where protesters burned the Quran, Report informs referring to The Local.

The move by police to tighten controls on the borders was announced by the Ministry of Justice in a statement late on Thursday. Both the German and Swedish borders are affected, police have confirmed.

“Based on recent Quran burnings and the development of the current threat level, police will temporarily ramp up efforts on Denmark’s internal borders,” the ministry said.

The temporary measure comes into effect immediately and will remain in place until at least August 10.

The National Police (Rigspolitiet) made the decision to increase border controls based on the recommendation of the national police intelligence service, PET, according to the Justice Ministry statement.

A higher frequency of spot checks on borders will be a feature of the tightened controls.

“A PET has informed us, recent Quran burnings have affected the current threat level. Based on continual changes to the threat level, authorities have today concluded that it is currently necessary to increase focus on who travels into Denmark to confront the concrete and current threats Denmark faces,” the ministry said.

Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard said “the government and authorities are following the situation closely”.