Highlights
-Series of shootings leave Copenhagen residents fearful of reprisal attacks
-Justice Ministry proposes sweeping reforms to increase police powers
-Ongoing gang wars likely to polarize ethnic communities in the long-term
A growing turf war between the Danish chapter of the biker gang, Hells Angels, and the immigrant gang, Black Cobras, has jeopardized the safety and stability of Copenhagen, one of Europe’s safest cities. The dispute traces back to August 2008 when Hells Angels accused the immigrant gang of killing one of its members. Since then, street confrontations between the two gangs have risen. Police have documented arson attacks and 30 shootings in the last six months related to the conflict, with a majority of attacks occurring in the Norrebro district of the capital.
A series of brutal shootings earlier this month in the Norrebro district left Copenhagen residents on edge. In one shooting, unknown assailants fired automatic weapons killing a 25-year old while three cyclists fired upon a vehicle looking for a parking place, critically injuring two more. Later that weekend, two masked men forced a man outside a café to lie face down on the street before they fired two shots, killing the individual. The two assailants then fired back into the café, injuring three more people. The café is nearby a Hell Angels Club and is a popular hangout for members of AK81, a Hells Angels supported gang (Source).
Police say the latest victims were not linked to rival gangs. Four of the victims were ethnic Danes while one was a Dane of Iraqi origin. We believe this ethnic division will be increasingly evident in future conflicts between the anti-immigrant Hells Angels and the Black Cobras, which is comprised mainly of immigrants of Middle Eastern origin. As the turf war rages, the violence is likely to worsen relations between Danes and immigrants, who make up almost 6 percent of the country’s population, in the medium-term.
New Legislation
The country’s Justice Department responded to the rise in violence by sending a number of proposed criminal enactments to the Danish parliament. Plans include doubling the penalty for illegal firearm possession to a six-month prison term, increasing wire tapping rights for police officers, and enabling courts to deport immigrants who are found guilty of firearms crimes. In addition, Copenhagen police have set up a dedicated 35-man task force to crack down on the open street violence.
The proposed measures, which need parliamentary approval, have raised concerns from Denmark’s immigrant communities who are fearful of discriminatory policing. A majority of gang warfare occurs mostly in areas housing immigrant populations. We believe the measures will take precedence over the concerns of human rights groups as the shooting sprees represent the city’s worst spate of violence in decades. This violence, if not checked, could ultimately threaten the city’s reputation as a safe tourist destination in the long-term.
Outlook
Ethnic tensions became a prominent concern for authorities in 2005 following the violent Muslim group protests against the publishing of the 12 caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad in Denmark. If the turf war persists, the gang related violence could further polarize Copenhagen’s communities.
As police step up patrols in Norrebro district and other areas of Copenhagen, there will likely be a near-term sense of stabilization and security. Police in Copenhagen recently stated the increased search operations over the past week have led police to find fewer weapons on the streets.
•Increased patrols may force gang influence to southern Sweden. Police recently recorded an incident involving a Danish Black Cobra member attempting to blackmail a businessman in the Swedish city of Malmö. Swedish authorities have attributed a recent rise in gang activity to the street wars in Denmark.
Gang violence harming bystanders has increased dramatically since the emergence of immigrant gangs. In 2008 police reported 60 shootings in Copenhagen, nearly three times the number reported in 2007 (Source). Barring a sweeping crackdown on the two gangs in the near-term, reprisal gang shootings and vandalism attacks will likely remain a medium to long-term challenge for Danish authorities.
