Police arrest three at pro-Palestinian protest in Denmark

The protest, outside the Israeli embassy in the Danish capital, was disbanded after “extensive disorder,” said police who made three arrests.

Local media reported that some 4,000 people took part in the protest and a group of between 50 and 100 demonstrators started throwing rocks at both the embassy building and at police.

Police used tear gas and batons against the protesters. Police inspector Paw Kaltoft told the broadcaster that police had arrested three people and while things had calmed down in the evening they would maintain a presence throughout the night.

Denmark’s foreign minister Jeppe Kofod denounced the actions of some of the protesters, according to public broadcaster DR.

“Everyone has the right to peacefully express themselves in Denmark,” Kofod said in a post to Twitter, adding that the throwing of stones was “completely unacceptable”.

Alle har ret til fredeligt at ytre sig i Danmark.

Men de hændelser, vi har været vidne til i dag med bl.a. stenkast mod den israelske ambassade og politiet er fuldstændigt uacceptable.

Dem tager jeg klart og utvetydigt afstand fra. Det er komplet utilstedeligt. #dkpol

— Jeppe Kofod (@JeppeKofod) May 14, 2021

The “Solidarity with Palestine” protest was held in response to the ongoing conflict with Israel, and participants called on the Danish government to condemn the Israeli government.

Israel bombarded Gaza with artillery and air strikes on Friday following a new barrage of rocket fire from the Hamas-run enclave, intensifying a conflict that has now claimed at least 141 lives. The conflict escalated earlier this month over forced expulsions of Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood in East Jerusalem.

The protest coincides with other demos taking place across Europe, including France and Germany.