A 31-year-old Danish man has been indicted for assaulting a Swedish man at a World Cup big-screen event on Islands Brygge in Copenhagen in June. The Swedish man died three days later.
The prosecution service at Copenhagen Police announced the indictment in a press release on Thursday. DR reports that the man is charged under the milder assault provision of the Danish Penal Code. Because the case concerns repeat violence, the sentence can be increased.
According to the indictment, the defendant struck the Swedish man with a powerful punch to the left side of the head or neck. The blow caused injuries including a ruptured artery, and the man later died. The defendant is also charged with throwing two beer cans toward a group of people, hitting another person.
The incident took place on June 30 during a public screening tied to the football World Cup finals. The match shown on the big screen was Norway against Ivory Coast. The Copenhagen Post reports that the Swedish victim was 32 years old and died on July 3, and that the indictment falls under section 244 of the Penal Code.
Previously convicted
Per the police press release, the accused has earlier convictions for crimes against persons. He was sentenced to seven years in prison, including for attempted murder. The press release also states that he is a Danish citizen.
Two additional men remain charged in the case, according to DR. Their cases are being handled separately from the indictment presented on Thursday. The trial of the 31-year-old is scheduled to begin on October 7.
Political reaction
The case from Islands Brygge drew anger at Christiansborg, DR reports. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of the Social Democrats commented publicly after the episode. She directed her thoughts to the Swedish man’s family and said she was shocked.
Writing on Instagram at the time, Frederiksen said deep grief and intense anger had filled her in the preceding days. She also said many people share anger over what she described as a typical pattern. She pointed to crime committed by people who come to Denmark from outside.
As reported by DR, the government has since said it will tighten penalties under the milder assault provision. The change would apply in cases where the victim dies and where the perpetrator has previously committed crimes against persons.
The death of the Swedish man has been under investigation by Copenhagen Police since late June 2026. The Copenhagen Post notes that the charges against the two other men have not been resolved.
