RIGHT NOW: Evacuation in Denmark - the military is called in

2024 07 29  /

JUST NU: Evakuering i Danmark – militären kallas in | Marcus Oscarsson

A large area in the Danish port city of Lohals has been evacuated.

There are unclear circumstances surrounding the incident and a large police operation is underway in the harbor area.

According to TV2, the military has been called to the scene and heavily armed police are patrolling the area. At the same time, it is reported that drones and helicopters are circling the air.

- We saw helicopters drop off two soldiers, says a witness to the TV channel.

The harbor chairman in Lohals, Birger Printz, testifies to great turbulence.

- It is a violent situation for a small town like Lohals. I hope the police soon reveal what is really going on. There are a lot of rumors about explosives and automatic weapons, but we don't know anything, because the whole area is cordoned off, he says.

Several ambulances have also arrived at the scene. According to testimony, paramedics have heard around about premises that can be used for medical care in a "worst case scenario".

Ongoing effort

The Danish police have commented on the operation in a press release.

- We are investigating a report concerning a person and possible explosives on a boat in the port of Lohals, the police state.

It is still unclear whether the police located explosives at the scene.

There are several rumors circulating about the effort on social media.

- We understand that the situation can create insecurity and impatience, but we stress that we are working to resolve the situation as quickly as possible with a focus on safety for everyone in the area. About 50 people are currently evacuated, the police write in the press release.

Ships are stopped

The police stop boats from arriving at the port.

- We saw people coming out in rubber boats that stop boats that are not allowed to enter. And we have seen drones in the air, says a woman to TV2.

She tells us that the entire harbor has been blocked off.

- Police in vests carrying machine guns arrived. Suddenly the entire harbor was cordoned off.

Lohals is a small harbor town with 445 inhabitants in the northern part of the island of Langeland, which is located between Fyn och Lolland.