Truslen indefra afslører Danmarks skjulte terrormønstre
Morten Skjoldagers bog fra 2009 kortlægger radikaliseringens historie med PET-kilder
In 2009, Danish journalist Morten Skjoldager published The Threat Within, a thorough investigation into Islamist terrorism in Denmark. The book stands out for its unusual access to material from PET — Denmark's Police Intelligence Service — combined with interviews with key figures within the Danish security establishment.
Four Cases, One Pattern
The book is structured around four major Danish terror cases that together illustrate how radicalization and terrorist movements developed in Denmark over time. Among the cases examined is an Egyptian-linked case from the city of Aarhus in 1993, along with later cases connected to the areas of Glostrup, Vollsmose, and Glasvej.
For international readers, it is worth noting that PET is Denmark's domestic intelligence and security service, roughly equivalent to the FBI's domestic branch or the UK's MI5. Its files are rarely made available to outside researchers, making Skjoldager's access particularly significant.
Mapping Radicalization Networks
Skjoldager systematically charts how Islamist extremism gained a foothold in Denmark and how radicalization networks formed among young Muslim men. The book also documents connections between Danish terror cases and links to al-Qaeda and other organizations.
An Insider's View
What sets the book apart from other terrorism literature is its combination of archival sources from security authorities with first-hand accounts from people inside the Danish security apparatus. This dual approach gives readers both a documentary picture and an insider perspective on Denmark as both a target and a point of origin for Islamist extremism in Europe.
Published by Lindhardt og Ringhof and running to 311 pages, The Threat Within remains a key reference for understanding how domestic terror threats developed in a Scandinavian context.
