Noa Chief: Denmark has its own problems

The Danish rhetoric against Sweden is sharp since several Swedish "child soldiers" were arrested in the country. But even if Sweden has major problems, it's not Swedes who are driving the violence, says police chief Håkan Wall. It's someone who is ordering these assignments and both Denmark and Norway have a history of serious crime.

» Updated: September 15 2024

» Published: August 14 2024

Noa Chief: Denmark has its own problems
Photo: Anna Tärnhuvud/SVD/TT

Share this article

Criticism from Danish politicians is harsh since it emerged that a large number of Swedes are suspected of serious violent crimes in the country during 2024. According to Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard (S), there have been 25 incidents involving "Swedish child soldiers" since April, who were paid to commit crimes on certain occasions.

At a press conference on Monday, the minister said he wants to put pressure on Sweden to take responsibility for the development, and in a TT interview on Tuesday, he said that "Sweden must clean up its mess".

Håkan Wall, head of the international unit at Noa, is the "first to regret that Swedish children and young people travel to Denmark and commit serious crimes".

It is extremely tragic for Sweden, but also for those affected by the violence and for the children themselves.

Own Problematic

However, it cannot be solely regarded as a problem for Sweden to solve, according to Wall. Denmark has also long been plagued by gang criminality and serious crime.

Sweden has unfortunately distinguished itself by having gangs with a very high level of violence. They exploit criminals in other countries by ordering Swedish young murderers in their conflicts. But it is not Sweden that is responsible for all criminality in Denmark and Norway. They have their own problematic, which Sweden has unfortunately become a part of.

Norwegian police have also warned about Swedish gangs operating across the border.

It is crucial to catch those who drive the violence, he says.

Everyone, including at the European level, must get better at it. We catch and prosecute many perpetrators, but it is the clients who are the genuinely dangerous people over time.

He emphasizes that the Nordic police cooperation is working very well, which is crucial since crime is cross-border.

We have several joint operations ongoing all the time. It is a very broad and intense cooperation.

Work Remains

That there is still much for Sweden to do is not in doubt, says Håkan Wall. Among other things, he thinks Hummelgaard's call to review double penalties for gang criminals is good.

Another important issue is how to handle children who commit serious crimes. He views positively the government's plans for youth prisons.

As tragic as it is, if we cannot prevent these serious crimes where children shoot children with Kalashnikovs, we must lock them up, to protect them themselves and others.

Within a week, five Swedish citizens, including three minors, were arrested for attempted murder and a bomb attack in Denmark.

It involves a man and a woman suspected of involvement in a hand grenade attack on a convenience store in Copenhagen on August 6, a 17-year-old suspected of shooting at a young man in Copenhagen the day before, and two teenagers who fired shots in Nørrebro and Kolding in Copenhagen the week before.

The background to the wave of violence is a conflict between two gangs in Denmark, according to the Danish National Police, NSK.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Suspected Hazardous Object Found Near Karlskrona Prompts Investigation
1 MIN READ

Suspected Hazardous Object Found Near Karlskrona Prompts Investigation

Avoid Hemorrhoids: Stop Scrolling on the Toilet, Study Suggests
2 MIN READ

Avoid Hemorrhoids: Stop Scrolling on the Toilet, Study Suggests

Västergötland Residents Advised to Boil Water Due to Cloudiness
1 MIN READ

Västergötland Residents Advised to Boil Water Due to Cloudiness

Weight Loss Drugs Like Ozempic May Aid Cocaine Addiction Recovery
1 MIN READ

Weight Loss Drugs Like Ozempic May Aid Cocaine Addiction Recovery

Social Democrats Push for Profit Ban in Schools After Bregott Scandal
2 MIN READ

Social Democrats Push for Profit Ban in Schools After Bregott Scandal

SMHI Warns of Heavy Rain and Flood Risk in Western Sweden
1 MIN READ

SMHI Warns of Heavy Rain and Flood Risk in Western Sweden

Suspect Identified in Malmö Train Accident Investigation
1 MIN READ

Suspect Identified in Malmö Train Accident Investigation

Kristersson and Åkesson Disagree Over Stegrud's Cultural Canon Remarks
2 MIN READ

Kristersson and Åkesson Disagree Over Stegrud's Cultural Canon Remarks

Man Sentenced for Insulting Police Officer in Landmark Case
1 MIN READ

Man Sentenced for Insulting Police Officer in Landmark Case

Norwegian Man Arrested in Oslo for Gothenburg Double Murder
3 MIN READ

Norwegian Man Arrested in Oslo for Gothenburg Double Murder

Four Suspected of Kidnapping in Växjö as Missing Woman Found Safe
1 MIN READ

Four Suspected of Kidnapping in Växjö as Missing Woman Found Safe

Iron Ore Line Reopens After Boulder Removal Near Narvik
2 MIN READ

Iron Ore Line Reopens After Boulder Removal Near Narvik

Government Proposes Stricter Rules for Dangerous Dog Ownership
2 MIN READ

Government Proposes Stricter Rules for Dangerous Dog Ownership

Hesa Fredrik Test Fails in Scania Due to Technical Issues
1 MIN READ

Hesa Fredrik Test Fails in Scania Due to Technical Issues

Woman Sentenced for Moving Park Bench in Romantic Gesture
1 MIN READ

Woman Sentenced for Moving Park Bench in Romantic Gesture

Woman Found Dead in Västerås; Murder Investigation Launched
1 MIN READ

Woman Found Dead in Västerås; Murder Investigation Launched

Increased GPS Disruptions in Swedish Airspace Over Baltic Sea
2 MIN READ

Increased GPS Disruptions in Swedish Airspace Over Baltic Sea

Malmö Apartment Targeted in Second Shooting Incident
2 MIN READ

Malmö Apartment Targeted in Second Shooting Incident

Extreme Fires Becoming Common in Portugal and Spain
2 MIN READ

Extreme Fires Becoming Common in Portugal and Spain

Minister Warns of Dangers in Normalizing Choking Sex Among Youth
2 MIN READ

Minister Warns of Dangers in Normalizing Choking Sex Among Youth