Media release. 7 February 2013

EFJ Condemns Murder Attempt against Danish journalist

Today the European Federation of Journalist (EFJ) expressed its serious concern for the safety of  a Danish journalist who escaped an assassination attempt on Tuesday 5 February 2013. 

"We hope that the Danish authorities will catch the person who committed this crime and bring him to justice, "said EFJ President Arne König.

Lars Hedegaard, a well-known journalist and media activist in Denmark, opened the door of his house to a man pretending to delivering a package and wearing a red jacket of the postal service. The man then drew a gun and shot at Hedegaard's head, but he missed. Following a struggle, the attacker fled and has not been identified so far. 

"It is chocking and alarming  to hear that the Danish debater and Islam critic Lars Hedegaard was targeted and shot against on Tuesday in Copenhagen. This is not only an assault on him as a person, but also an attack on freedom of speech in Denmark," said Mogens Blicher-Bjerregaard, President of the Danish union of journalists (DJ).

Hedegaard is Editor-in-chief of "Dispatch International", an online news portal, and President of Denmark's "Free Press Society". He is a controversial critic of the EU, Islam, immigration, multiculture and "the left", and claimed several times that he is threatened by religious and ideological interests.

For more information contact the EFJ at  +32 2 235.2200

The EFJ is the European group of the International Federation of Journalists
The EFJ represents over 300,000 journalists in 37 countries


European Federation of Journalists
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