Photographers say police hit them with batons at Copenhagen protests

Two photographers say police struck them with batons during demonstrations and counter-demonstrations in Copenhagen, DR reported, citing Politiken and Ekstra Bladet, where the photographers work. Copenhagen Police has neither confirmed nor denied that the photographers were hit.

Ekstra Bladet photographer Anthon Unger said an officer struck his arm with a baton during a clash between plainclothes police and protesters. A Politiken photographer was hit repeatedly elsewhere during the demonstrations, the newspaper’s photo editor, Peter Hove Olesen, said. The photographer went to an emergency department at around 7pm for examination and treatment.

Deputy police inspector Jakob Hansen told DR that uniformed and plainclothes officers had used their batons. Police were reviewing their own documentation to establish what happened, he said.

Ekstra Bladet editor-in-chief Knud Brix called the incident “completely unacceptable” and said he intended to file a complaint. He said video appeared to show the officer reaching towards the photographer’s camera before striking him, indicating that the officer had seen the camera.

Hansen said he was not aware of any complaint having been filed, but urged anyone who had been hit unlawfully to complain. Olesen also expects Copenhagen Police to explain immediately what happened to the Politiken photographer.

The Danish Press Photographers’ Association also criticised the police. Its deputy chair, Cæciliie Philipa Vibe Pedersen, said photographers should be able to cover demonstrations without being hit.

No police officers were injured, Hansen said. Eight people were arrested in connection with the demonstrations, which were organised by the right-wing grassroots movement Det Danske Folk. Several left-wing organisations arranged counter-demonstrations.