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The Danish Security and Intelligence Service Annual Report 2006-2007 PAGE 2 Foreword ANNUAL REPORT 2006-2007 The Danish Security and Intelligence Service Annual Report 2006-2007 PAGE 2 fOREWORD Foreword In its capacity as the national security authority, However, counter-terrorism efforts require the Danish Security and Intelligence Service ongoing adaptation and adjustments, and for (PET) must prevent, investigate and counter PET it is a dynamic process. This implies, on operations and activities that pose or may pose the one hand, that we must ensure that we a threat to the preservation of Denmark as a integrate and use the new capacities, resources free, democratic and safe country. and competencies efficiently and, on the other hand, that we must have an eye to the fact that In its work, PET addresses various forms of further reinforcement may prove necessary. threats against Denmark and Danish interests abroad, where the most serious threat at the The decisive point for PET is to have easy moment is that of terrorism. and swift access to the information that is necessary for us to identify specific treats According to PET’s ongoing assessments of the and to target our intelligence and investigative terrorist threat, Denmark faces at present the work. It is, however, equally important for us most serious threat picture in many years, and to have modern and up-to-date IT systems to terrorist attacks may take place without any ensure that we can process and analyse the warning. There are persons and groups in this information. country who are planning terrorist activities here or abroad. There is increased focus on Combating terrorism effectively depends on Denmark, also among leading militant extremists the ability of the Security and Intelligence abroad who wish to carry out terrorist activities Service to use the investigative techniques against Denmark or against Danish interests and methods that are necessary. However, it abroad. PET conducts operations and is equally important that we are able to protect investigations on an ongoing basis that are these techniques and methods in such a directed against specific threats, and spends manner that they can be used effectively many resources on identifying and preventing also in future. these threats. The experience gained in relation to the new Effective counter-terrorism efforts are based threats since the terrorist attacks on 11 on comprehensive prevention of radicalisation, September 2001 is that we as a security and robust measures to counter specific terrorist intelligence service must be prepared, to a activities, and effective investigation and much larger extent, to counter threats not only prosecution of terrorists. preventatively, but also to ensure that criminal investigation and prosecution measures are Therefore, it is necessary for the Security and carried through in relation to the perpetrators. Intelligence Service to possess the capacity, resources and competencies that are needed This presents us with the classic dilemma that in order to take effective action in these areas. we in some cases cannot take action until we have a firm and solid foundation for doing PET has experienced great changes since so. At the same time, we must be aware of the terrorist attacks against the USA on the security-related risks when dealing with 11 September 2001, and has been allocated people who are planning an act of terrorism. further resources and tools. It also means that we now, to an even higher THE DANISH SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE SERVICE / ANNUAL REPORT 2006-2007 fOREWORD PAGE 3 degree than earlier, have to conduct our are challenges to which we must find sound investigations in a manner that makes it possible solutions. to subsequently initiate criminal proceedings and bring the criminal case to trial. Regarding efforts at both national and international level, we who work for PET also The terrorist threat is not a metropolitan have a clear interest in counter-terrorism problem or a big city phenomenon. It affects being on the one hand effective and on the the entire country. PET has therefore other hand based on a legally sound basis. We reinforced the local and regional presence of must at all times be conscious of maintaining the Security and Intelligence Service. We have this balance. And it is particularly important – done so through the establishment of two also for PET – that the powers we have been regional units covering the eastern and western assigned are subject to effective supervision, as part of Denmark, respectively, and by appointing these powers may often be rather intrusive in local PET agents. Together with the police relation to the individual citizen. The supervision reform and the establishment of new and larger is of importance to our work and especially to police districts, this will hopefully strengthen the confidence in PET which is required. the efforts to combat terrorism through even closer collaboration between PET and the Early prevention efforts are necessary in order police districts. to prevent young people from being attracted to extremism and violent environments. In order PET’s use of sources, informants and, in some to contribute to performing this task, PET has cases, civilian agents is altogether crucial if we established a Centre for Prevention which is are to be able to identify and counter specific responsible for the initiation and implementation terrorist threats. It is a focus area for us to of a number of specific projects that aim at become even better at performing this part of preventing radicalisation and terrorism, and PET’s activities. which through broad dialogue endeavours to involve all relevant actors in Danish society in Another focus area for PET is our wish to the prevention of radicalisation at the earliest strengthen and further develop international stage possible. Similarly, PET considers it an co-operation on combating terrorism. There important task to provide advice and guidance is a need for us to become even better at that contributes to the establishment of an working multilaterally and operationally across effective capability in Denmark for countering borders and with the incorporation of other law the threats facing Danish society. enforcement authorities. At the same time, it is necessary that we develop our collaboration Preventing security threats is not a task PET with a number of countries with which we can perform on its own. It is, therefore, an have not earlier had close co-operation, but important goal for PET to involve Danish society which are of special importance to the fight as such in the protection of the values on which against terrorism. This applies to, among others, our society is based. countries in North Africa and the Middle East. The involvement of citizens requires openness Developing this collaboration implies, naturally, and transparency on the part of PET in relation both practical and legal challenges, but they to the general public. We at PET strive to be THE DANISH SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE SERVICE / ANNUAL REPORT 2006-2007 PAGE 4 fOREWORD as open as possible to the outside world, but in order for us as a security and intelligence service to function effectively, it is necessary to keep information secret in order to protect, among other things, current investigations, sources and partners. As part of our efforts at showing maximum openness and transparency, the Security and Intelligence Service has publicised unclassified assessments of the terror threat against Denmark on an ongoing basis since May 2007. The objective of publicising the assessments is to give the population a greater insight into and understanding of the global threat picture and at the same time accommodate the population’s great interest in this area. This annual report covers 2006 and 2007. To the extent it is relevant, matters from the beginning of 2008 have been included. Let me conclude by wishing you pleasant reading. Jakob Scharf Director General THE DANISH SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE SERVICE / ANNUAL REPORT 2006-2007 fOREWORD PAGE 5 THE DANISH SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE SERVICE / ANNUAL REPORT 2006-2007 PAGE 6 TOArganisationalbLE Of contents AND ADministrative matters 1. Table of contents Foreword 2 1. Organisational and administrative matters 8 Adjustment of PET’s organisation 9 Better local and regional coverage 11 Strengthened investigative capacity 11 New IT platform 11 Vision 2009 12 2. Legal matters 14 Legal Department 14 Access to files and records 14 Legislation and supervision 15 Supervision through the Minister of Justice 16 Parliamentary supervision 16 Judicial supervision 16 Records supervision 16 Supervision through Rigsrevisionen (The National Audit Office) 17 The PET Commission and the Committee regarding PET and FE 17 The Government’s Action Plan for the Fight against Terrorism 17 Anti-Terrorism Package III (2006) 18 A criminal offence to recruit and train for terrorism 18 PET’s collection and communication of information 18 Court orders in connection with telephone interception 18 Tele-observation 19 Interference in radio or telecommunications 19 TV surveillance 19 PET’s access to passenger information 20 Logging 20 Co-operation with immigration authorities 21 Expulsion in the interests of national security 21 3. International co-operation 24 Operational co-operation 24 Administrative co-operation 24 Exchange of information with foreign partners 25 4. PET’s operational efforts 28 5. Special Operations 32 Sources and informants 32 Agents 32 Witness protection 33 6. Counter-terrorism 36 General features and trends 36 Danish terrorism cases 39 The bookseller from Brønshøj 39 The Glostrup Case 40 THE DANISH SECURITY AND INTELLIGENCE SERVICE / ANNUAL REPORT 2006-2007 TAbLE Of contents PAGE 7 The Vollsmose Case 41 The Glasvej Case 43 Danish-based support to illegal activities abroad 43 Internet 44 Non-proliferation 45 Terrorist financing 47 Center for Terror Analysis (CTA) 48 Assessment of the Terror Threat against Denmark (VTD) 49 7. Counter-extremism 50 Left-wing extremism 50 Clearance of Ungdomshuset 50 Right-wing extremism 51 Confrontations between right- and left-wing extremists 53 Threats against public figures 54 Racism and xenophobia 54 8.
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