Man arrested in Finland faces terrorism charges linked to arson in Copenhagen

A 21-year-old man, suspected of arson against a Jewish woman’s home in the Copenhagen area in May, was arrested days later in a separate case in Finland, according to court documents. In Finland, he faces charges of serious fraud and money laundering.

The man was remanded in custody on June 7, just over a week after the alleged arson incident on May 29. Some court proceedings in Helsinki were held behind closed doors, thus details surrounding the potential fraud remain unclear. He was extradited to Denmark in July and has been in custody since then. Initially charged only with intentional arson, the charges were expanded to include terrorism.

Due to a name restriction, his identity remains protected. There is no indication that the alleged fraud or money laundering is related to the charges in Denmark, and it is unclear how he is responding to the accusations in Finland. He denies the terrorism charge.

During a recent court appearance in Copenhagen, prosecutors stated that the 21-year-old, alongside unknown accomplices, scouted the Jewish woman’s apartment before the fire. On May 29, he allegedly poured flammable liquid on patio furniture and set it ablaze, spreading to the bedroom. The woman was present in her apartment when the fire was ignited, prompting a swift response from firefighters.

According to the Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET), the accused has connections to the banned gang Loyal to Familia (LTF). PET chief Finn Borch Andersen expressed concern over renewed links between LTF and terrorism cases, emphasizing that investigations are ongoing. The terrorism threat level in Denmark stands at “serious,” the second highest on a five-tier scale. The man is currently remanded in custody for four weeks.