Gang-related shooting at Aalborg tattoo shop not enough for permanent closure

A tattoo shop in Aalborg targeted in a gang-related shooting will remain temporarily closed, but authorities say the incident alone is insufficient for a permanent shutdown, Danish broadcaster DR reports.

North Jutland Police closed Royal Ink in Aalborg’s pedestrian street Bispensgade for 14 days after nine shots were fired at the shop on 7 April 2026. The closure could become permanent if the Comanches MC motorcycle club continues using the premises as a meeting point.

Aalborg’s city manager, Jes Asmussen, has called for the shop’s closure, arguing that such businesses should not operate in busy public areas. “It’s not ideal to have this kind of shop in a place where many people gather. We need to feel safe in the city centre,” he said.

Under Danish law, a business cannot be shut down solely due to gang affiliations or nearby shootings. However, Aalborg Municipality can enforce a permanent closure if the property is used as a regular gathering place for a group—such as a gang—and poses a significant threat to public safety.

Police confirmed the shop’s owner is the president of Comanches MC and that members frequently meet there. “It’s no secret this tattoo shop is run by the Comanches president, and we’ve observed members gathering there,” said Anne Marie Roum Svendsen, director of North Jutland Police.

While police have tools to sanction gang meeting places, Svendsen noted they lack preventive measures, such as barring gang-affiliated owners from central properties. “We have legal options, but it would be better if we didn’t have to wait for something dramatic to happen before acting,” she said.