Many protestors and one Iraqi refugee accuse police of brutality following raid on refugee shelter 

The raid on Brorson’s Church and the ensuing violent clashes between protesters and police have prompted more than 30 people including one of the refugees to complain about police brutality.

Andam Farzil, 19, was arrested in the raid on Brorson’s Church last week but has since been released he is not one of those facing repatriation.

Speaking with Politiken newspaper, Farzil confirmed reports of police using batons and said the beating continued inside the police bus.

‘We were yelling that they should leave us in peace and that we didn’t want to go back to Iraq. Then they told us to be quiet and started hitting us with batons,’ said Farzil.

The Iraqi’s account of the night’s events was just one of many complaints of police brutality during the raid which saw protestors clash with police who were trying to remove the Iraqis seeking refuge in the church.

The voluntary support group for the refugees, Kirkeasyl, has received at least 30 complaints of police brutality.

A spokeswoman said people were contacting the group to find out how to make a formal complaint against the police.

Copenhagen Police spokesman, Flemming Steen Munch, was surprised by the allegations. The operation had passed relatively peacefully, according to him.

He did not rule out the possibility that officers had been forced to push some of those arrested back into their seats if they had behaved in a troublesome manner.

The raid on the church is estimated to have caused 70,000 kroner worth of damage. The church organ was badly damaged after an Iraqi climbed up on it and threatened to commit suicide. The alter, crypt doors and some chairs were also damaged.

Brorson’s Church vicar Per Ramsdal blamed police for the damage and said if the operation had been carried out in a more peaceful manner, the Iraqis would not have reacted in such a terrified manner.

Of the 19 rejected asylum seekers arrested with a view to forcible repatriation, 18 have had their detention extended and two of the cases have been referred to the High Court.

According to police, there are currently 40 Iraqis in custody and a delegation of Iraqi authorities will visit Denmark next week to clarify the identities of those being sent back to Iraq.