COPENHAGEN, Denmark – Shotguns, a rifle and “things that could be used to make a bomb” were found when 14 people were arrested in Denmark and Germany on suspicion of planning one or more attacks in the two countries, said the Danish police Friday.
A flag from an IS group could indicate that the suspects “have a connection or sympathy with the terrorist organization,” police said.
Flemming Drejer, operational head of the Danish security and intelligence agency, said the findings were “troubling”, but “in our opinion there was no immediate danger”.
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Dreyer said the first seven people arrested in Denmark had acquired weapons and “we found things that could be used to make a bomb.” He said police had found shotguns and a rifle with a sight, as well as the flag, but could not provide further details on the Denmark case or its links with Germany.
“We are now in the early stages of the investigation and we need to keep our cards close to the chest,” said Dreyer.
All but one of 14 arrests took place in Denmark. Three of the suspects are of Syrian nationality, ages 33, 36 and 40, who were arrested last weekend, according to German officials.
Authorities announced eight arrests on Thursday and police said six more people were being held on Friday.
The detention hearings in Denmark were held behind so-called double-locked doors, meaning the case is shrouded in secrecy and few details are disclosed. Officials have not identified the suspects.
The Danish security agency, known by the Danish acronym PET, said on Thursday that the first seven people arrested in Denmark were suspected of “having obtained or participated in ingredients and components for the manufacture of explosives and weapons”.
They are suspected of having “planned one or more terrorist attacks or participated in an attempted terrorism”.
Previously, the German authorities had announced the first three arrests – two in Denmark and one in Germany. They said the suspects would have bought several kilograms (pounds) of chemicals that could be used to make explosives in January.
A search in the German town of Dessau-Rosslau, between Naumburg and Berlin, yielded 22 pounds of black powder and fuses, the German prosecution said. More chemicals were seized in Denmark.
Justice Minister Nick Haekkerup said on Twitter late Thursday that “the case shows that the terrorist threat against Denmark remains serious”.
The Scandinavian country of 10 million inhabitants has been concerned about a possible extremist attack since September 2005, when a Danish newspaper published 12 cartoons featuring the prophet Mohammed.
The cartoons sparked outrage and protests in the Muslim world, where any depiction of Muhammad is generally considered blasphemous. The newspaper said it had wanted to test whether cartoonists would use self-censorship when asked to portray Mohammed. No Danish laws were broken with the publication of the cartoons.