COPENHAGEN, Denmark – Shotguns, a rifle and “things that can be used to make a bomb” were found while 14 people were arrested in Denmark and Germany on suspicion of preparing one or several attacks in both countries, said Danish police in Friday.
A flag of an Islamic State group may indicate that the suspects “have a connection or sympathy with the terrorist organization,” the police said.
Flemming Drejer, chief operating officer for Denmark’s Security and Intelligence Service, said the findings were “worrying” but “our assessment is that there was no imminent danger”.
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Dreyer said the first seven individuals who were arrested in Denmark had acquired weapons and “we found things that can be used to make a bomb”. He said the police had found shotguns and a rifle with a target in addition to the flag, but that he could not give further details about the case in Denmark or its links with Germany.
“We are now in the early stages of the investigation and we need to keep our letters closed,” said Dreyer.
All but one of the 14 arrests took place in Denmark. Three of the suspects are Syrian citizens, aged 33, 36 and 40, who were arrested last weekend, according to German officials.
Authorities announced eight arrests on Thursday, and police said another six people were arrested on Friday.
Detention hearings in Denmark were held behind closed doors, which means that the case is shrouded in secrecy and few details are disclosed. Authorities have not identified the suspects.
The Danish security service, known by the Danish acronym PET, said on Thursday that the first seven people arrested in Denmark were suspected “of having acquired ingredients and components for the manufacture of explosives, in addition to weapons, or of participating in it” .
They are suspected of “having planned one or more terrorist attacks or participating in an attempted terrorism”.
Earlier, German authorities announced the first three arrests – two in Denmark and one in Germany. They said the suspects would have bought several kilograms (pounds) of chemicals in January that could be used to make explosives.
A search of a residence in the German city of Dessau-Rosslau, between Naumburg and Berlin, revealed 22 pounds of black powder and fuses, the German prosecutor said. More chemicals were seized in Denmark.
Justice Minister Nick Haekkerup said on Thursday on Twitter that “the case shows that the terrorist threat against Denmark remains serious”.
The Scandinavian country of 10 million has been concerned about a possible extremist attack since September 2005, when a Danish newspaper published 12 cartoons showing the prophet Muhammad.
The cartoons have caused outrage and protests in the Muslim world, where any representation of Muhammad is generally considered blasphemy. The newspaper said it wanted to test whether cartoonists would apply self-censorship when asked to portray Muhammad. No Danish law has been violated with the publication of cartoons.