Police raid on church sheltering refused Iraqi asylum seekers, sparks violent street protests

Seventeen Iraqi men and numerous protesters have been arrested following a police raid on Brorson’s Church and in ensuing street clashes, TV2 News reports.

The church in the city’s Nørrebro district, where refused Iraqi asylum seekers have been sheltering, was raided at 1:30 am this morning. The action unleashed violent protests from about 300 people, many affiliated with refugee assistance group Kirkeasyl.

Protesters formed a human chain on Rantzausgade to stop the bus used to take the Iraqis away. But when that move failed, the protesters began attacking the bus, smashing the windscreen.

Police used pepper spray and truncheons to break up the protesters, many of whom were arrested. Numerous confrontations between the protesters and police followed, with order being restored in the area at about 5am.

Per Ramsdal, Brorson’s Church vicar, said the police wreaked havoc inside the church. He said the raid was anything but peaceful and calm as the police had promised.

‘A lot has been destroyed. It was a very violent approach from the police’s side.’

Flemming Steen Munch, spokesman for Copenhagen Police, said his force received a request from the National Police to carry out the action. He denied it was a raid. 

Police entered the church with civilian officers and took the Iraqis away, but the officers were forced to go into uniform when the street riots began, according to Munch.

Integration minister Birthe Rønn Hornbech described the action as ‘unfortunate but necessary’.

Around 80 Iraqis had originally sought refuge from repatriation in Brorson’s Church. While some have been sent back to Iraq, up to 45 others are ‘missing’, according to police.