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| Europe |
| Denmark: 'Zero tolerance' approach to rioters |
| 2008-02-15 |
| The reader must read the entire article before the religious background of the "yoots" becomes apparent. It might be a hot summer in Yooroop this year. Last weekend's disturbances in the Nørrebro district have sparked off nation-wide riots and the justice minister is now calling for a zero tolerance approach. Lene Espersen, the justice minister, called the latest wave of riots in several Danish cities 'completely unacceptable'. She warned that harsher penalties would be in store for trouble-makers and urged parents of the youths to take action. However, the authorities had a role to play in preventive measures as well, she admitted. 'It is shocking and worrying that this kind of thing is happening,' she told public broadcaster, DR. 'We must have a zero tolerance approach to young offenders. They must realise that their actions have serious consequences,' she continued. Per Larsen, Copenhagen police operations chief, called the recent riots a 'vicious circle'. 'At the moment, nothing seems to point in the direction of organised rioting, but it seems that we are in a situation where there is risk of this spreading like a wildfire,' he said. He also denied any allegation that the police may have provoked the situation referring to commentators stating that increased police presence and new search zones in Nørrebro had allegedly sparked off the first of the rioting last weekend. 'That is an absurd theory. Why would we want to do that? I think we're talking about marginalised young people who are showing solidarity with other youngsters in different parts of the country,' Larsen said. There are mixed reactions and theories to the riots that have raged across the country. A police spokesperson in Århus said it could be due to boredom during the half-term. Many of the youths are between the ages of 13 and 19. Other sources point towards the reprinted Mohammed cartoons as a possible cause. Although the rioting in Nørrebro started due to an alleged argument between police and an elderly man, the continued rioting is considered by some to be in response to the drawings being reprinted in 17 of the nation's newspapers. Cities affected so far include Copenhagen, Århus, Brabrand, Gellerup, Ballerup and Bagsværd. |
| Posted by:mrp |
| #4 WAFF.com > NORWAY TO HIRE/ALLOW 100,000 TURKISH EMIGRANT WORKERS. |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2008-02-15 21:12 |
| #3 scatterguns and firehoses to the front. |
| Posted by: Frank G 2008-02-15 18:58 |
| #2 Does this mean hot lead to the head instead of cotton balls and foo-foos ? |
| Posted by: Woozle Elmeter 2907 2008-02-15 18:19 |
| #1 the media may not be willing to highlight the religious background of the yoots - but it seems the Vikings themselves still have a spine. |
| Posted by: Grailing and Tenille1838 2008-02-15 15:12 |