Parties demand answers over Denmark’s sadistic online networks

Several Danish political parties are demanding an explanation from Justice Minister Nicolai Wammen about how widespread sadistic online networks are in Denmark, DR reports.

The calls follow Europol’s disclosure to DR that it is working with Danish police on “dozens” of cases linked to networks where videos of assaults, self-harm and, in the worst cases, school attacks are highly sought after.

Several of the cases have links to Denmark, although not all necessarily involve a Danish victim or perpetrator.

“It seems deeply, deeply alarming,” said Venstre justice spokesperson Preben Bang Henriksen, one of those calling for an explanation. Anders Vistisen, justice spokesperson for the Danish People’s Party, also wants the minister to address the issue.

“I think the scale of this is shocking to many people. It has certainly shocked me,” Vistisen said after Europol provided the figures.

The term NVE networks has resurfaced following the terrorism case in eastern Jutland, where three people have been charged in connection with attempted attacks on Hadsten School. According to DR’s information, authorities suspect that those involved have links to sadistic NVE networks online.

Minister offers more resources

Hans Kristian Skibby, justice spokesperson for the Denmark Democrats, is also calling for an explanation. He wants the minister to clarify how the networks are organised, how the authorities’ efforts are progressing, how serious the threat from the groups is, and whether the trend is rising or considered to be under control.

Vistisen also plans to ask the parliamentary Justice Committee to hold a hearing.

Wammen declined to give an interview but wrote in an email that it was “deeply concerning” that extremist content was not only found in the darkest corners of the internet, but increasingly also on popular mainstream platforms.

“The government is ready to provide the police and intelligence services with more tools, technology and resources if the authorities assess that further measures are needed to deal with the threats we face,” he wrote.

NVE networks publicly identified before summer

Authorities first publicly described the NVE networks in a terrorism threat assessment issued by Denmark’s Security and Intelligence Service shortly before the summer, DR legal correspondent Louise Dalsgaard said.

According to Dalsgaard, Denmark currently has no unified task force or plan for dismantling the networks, and no overview of cases linked to the sadistic groups.

“That is why we are now hearing several political parties call for this phenomenon to be mapped,” she said.