COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Authorities announced on Friday that a significant cache of 80 firearms, along with 140 kilograms (309 pounds) of ammunition and a hand grenade believed to be from World War II, has been turned over to the Danish police by a man who was clearing out a house.
This handover is part of a nationwide amnesty initiative set by the government aimed at reducing the availability of illegal weapons to criminal organizations. Throughout the month of November, individuals are encouraged to surrender firearms without fear of prosecution, enabling the police to safely collect these dangerous items.
Denmark has experienced a troubling rise in violent conflicts between criminal gangs competing for drug distribution and territory in recent years. The unidentified individual surrendered a total of 62 pistols and 18 other firearms, which included rifles and submachine guns, as well as various smaller weapons components, in addition to the historical grenade.
The police have indicated that they will notify the National Museum of Denmark to determine whether any of the collected items hold historical significance and should be preserved for the future.
Thomas Kristensen, a representative of the Central and West Zealand Police, remarked, “This is undoubtedly the largest collection of weapons we have retrieved thus far,” as reported by broadcaster TV2.
As the amnesty has entered its second week, official reports indicate that approximately 8,402 items have already been submitted. However, instances have occurred where police stations needed to be temporarily evacuated after citizens unwittingly brought hand grenades and other explosives into the facilities, as noted by national police spokesperson Sune Fletcher Hjortel.
In Denmark, the possession, acquisition, carrying, and use of firearms and dangerous weapons, including knives, is strictly controlled and requires a special police permit. Even individuals who obtain permits, such as hunters, are mandated to securely store their weapons when they are not in use.
Similar amnesty campaigns for weapons have been conducted in the years 2009, 2013, and 2017, as documented by local news sources.