More than 8,400 weapons have been turned in to Danish police this month as part of a nationwide amnesty to tackle violence between criminal gangs.
A man in Denmark who discovered 80 firearms, 140 kilograms of ammunition and a hand grenade likely dating to World War II while cleaning a house has handed over the weapons to police as part of a nationwide arms amnesty.
Danish police said people can turn in weapons without risking prosecution during November, in a bid to prevent criminal groups from obtaining unauthorised arms.
Violence between criminal gangs fighting over territory and drugs has risen in recent years in the Scandinavian country, according to authorities.
The man — who has not been identified — handed in 62 pistols and 18 other firearms including rifles and submachine guns, as well as ammunition, various smaller weapon parts and a hand grenade that police believe originated from World War II.
“It is clearly the largest batch we have received so far,” said police spokesman Thomas Kristensen. Police said they will inform the National Museum of Denmark so that they can assess if any of the weapons “must be preserved for posterity”.
During the first 12 days of the amnesty, at least 8,400 items were handed in, authorities said.
Some police stations in the country had to be temporarily evacuated in cases where “well-intentioned citizens … hand over hand grenades and other explosives,” Sune Fletcher Hjortel of the national police said earlier this week.
Acquiring, possessing, carrying or using firearms or dangerous weapons and knives is illegal in Denmark without a police permit. Individuals permitted to have such items, including hunters, must store them in a secured locker when they are not being used.
Denmark held similar arms amnesties in 2009, 2013, and 2017, local media reported.
Other European nations have done the same in recent years. In France, at least 65,000 firearms were handed over at 300 collection points across the country in a two-week period in 2022.
Last year in Serbia, more than 13,500 weapons were turned in a month-long amnesty as part of a crackdown after two mass shootings that left 17 people dead.
Additional sources • AP
