Three teenagers detained over alleged attack plot at Hadsten school

Three teenagers have been detained for allegedly planning an attack on Hadsten School, a public school in northern Hadsten, DR reports. None of the three lived in Favrskov Municipality, where the school is located.

Henrik Mørck Mogensen, chair of the school board and a parent at the school, said he was told about the arrests in a call from Favrskov Municipality’s head of Children and Youth.

His son attends the school, where three of his children have studied. He described the news as a “total surprise and shock”.

“None of us could imagine that this could happen, or that it would concern Hadsten School,” he told DR’s P1 Morgen.

Maja Pedersen took her son to the school’s SFO childcare programme on Tuesday morning. He is due to start in the first grade on Monday.

She said the family had discussed the incident at home and explained to him in age appropriate terms that police and journalists might be at the school, but that everyone was looking after them and there was nothing to fear.

Pedersen said she was especially puzzled about why Hadsten School had allegedly been targeted.

An extraordinary meeting was held for all school employees on Tuesday morning, with police and psychologists present. Thomas Smidt, director of Children and Culture in Favrskov Municipality, said staff needed an opportunity to ask questions and discuss how adults and children might respond to the incident.

After a custody hearing lasting almost six hours at Randers District Court, the teenagers were remanded in custody for four weeks. Because of their young age, they will be held at a secure institution for young people.

The judge found reasonable grounds to suspect that the three, aged 15, 16 and 16, had committed attempted terrorism under Section 114 of the Danish Criminal Code.

According to the charges, preparations took place on the online platforms Discord and Telegram. DR reports that the case may have originated in NVE networks, online networks where violence, sadism and school shootings are praised.

The municipality said the suspects did not live in Favrskov, and police said there was no longer any threat to Hadsten School.

Mogensen said he generally felt safe sending his son to the school and trusted the authorities. However, he added that some doubt and unease would remain.

All three teenagers have denied the charges through their defence lawyers. The 15 year old wants the High Court to review his detention. One of the 16 year olds has reserved the right to appeal, while the other accepts the detention.

The judge has ordered all three teenagers to undergo mental examinations.