A local election candidate in Herlev was attacked late Monday evening while taking down campaign posters. The incident marks yet another troubling moment in what has already been one of Denmark’s most tense municipal election campaigns.
Attack with Fireworks Targets Candidate
A candidate for Denmark’s Liberal Party, or Venstre, was attacked in Herlev on Monday night while removing campaign posters near a polling station. According to local police, a group of young people fired fireworks at the candidate and fled the scene before officers arrived.
Benjamin Haxha, the Venstre front-runner in Herlev, reported the incident to police after sharing details on social media. He stated he was unharmed but shaken by being targeted during the election period. The police confirmed receiving the call around 9:19 p.m. and have opened an investigation. Officials have not confirmed whether the firework type described as “pipe bombs” were used, but they are treating the matter seriously.
The assault comes amid heightened political tension across Denmark, as a recent local election campaign has seen vandalism, threats, and harassment of multiple candidates.
A String of Vandalism and Threats
This is not the first time Benjamin Haxha has been targeted. In recent weeks, he has shared several examples of damage to his materials. Posters have been torn down, banners stolen, and property vandalized. Surveillance footage allegedly shows masked individuals arriving in a car to remove his banners in the early morning hours.
Earlier in the campaign, Haxha also reported intimidation from a group of people in Herlev’s town center, claiming they deliberately destroyed his posters and confronted him when he asked them to stop. That case was also reported to the police.
Even though such acts remain rare in Danish politics, the series of events has drawn national attention to growing hostility in local campaigns. Because of that, party officials have voiced concern about the atmosphere surrounding the elections and how it might discourage participation among new candidates.
Tense Relations with Rival Parties
Aside from the attacks and vandalism, Haxha’s campaign has also faced criticism from other political groups in Herlev. Parties such as the Social Democrats, Socialist People’s Party (SF), the Red-Green Alliance, Conservatives, and Liberal Alliance have all expressed frustration with how Haxha and his team conducted themselves.
According to those parties, Venstre members filmed them while they were putting up their own campaign signs, leading to accusations of intimidation. Some alleged that the filming crossed a line and created an unpleasant working atmosphere between the candidates.
Haxha responded by saying that he recorded videos of his posters throughout the day to document them in their proper locations. He explained that he started filming after spotting several of his own materials being moved or destroyed, which he considered unlawful actions.
In his statement, Haxha added that his intention was to protect his campaign’s integrity, not to intimidate others. He also suggested that other candidates should have reached out to him directly if they had concerns, rather than addressing the situation through the media.
The ongoing disputes in Herlev illustrate how tense the current municipal election period has become. Despite the country’s reputation for calm and consensus-oriented politics, local campaigns in some areas have experienced an unusual amount of friction.
Investigation and Broader Context
As the police continue to investigate the attack on Benjamin Haxha, many local observers wonder whether this violent episode might mark a turning point in how election safety is handled. Historically, Danish local elections have been low-key affairs with little confrontation. But in this cycle, reports of vandalism and intimidation are increasing.
Meanwhile, national media and party leaders are calling for a stronger focus on candidate protection at the municipal level. The incident in Herlev has also sparked discussions about how public trust in democracy can be strengthened in the face of rising tension, both online and in physical campaign spaces.
In the end, the story of Benjamin Haxha’s campaign reflects a broader debate about civility in Danish politics. While the attack itself is under investigation, it has already left an impact on how the public sees the tone of this year’s local elections across the country.
Sources and References
The Danish Dream: Danish Local Elections See Half of Voters Still Undecided
DR: Kandidat til kommunalvalget i Herlev: Jeg blev angrebet med bomberør
