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Threat of terror on the rise

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September 23rd, 2014


This article is more than 10 years old.

Foreign minister says risk of attacks increases as IS grows

Martin Lidegaard, the foreign minster, called it “highly uncomfortable” that Denmark is mentioned as one of the countries targeted in the latest video released by the terrorist group Islamic State (IS).

The UN said that the risk of terrorist attacks increases in Denmark and other Western countries as IS grows in strength. Lidegaard said that is all the more reason for Denmark to remain in the coalition fighting against the terrorists.

“Of course it is highly uncomfortable that Denmark's name is mentioned,” Lidegaard told Ekstra Bladet. “That’s why it is incredibly important that we show international solidarity, and that there are as many countries as possible in the coalition.”

READ MORE: Government ready to help the US in Iraq

Denmark is mentioned in a new IS video as one of the countries the organisation has in its crosshairs.

“The threat of terrorism has unfortunately increased in Denmark and in other countries,” said Lidegaard. “We must fight them, so it is extremely gratifying that there are 40 countries standing together.”

Supports airstrikes
Lidegaard said that he supports the US-led air strikes against IS in Syria. 

“We have said that it is important there are Arab and Muslim countries participating in these actions,” said Lidegaard. "We cannot let IS succeed in portraying this as a war between the West and Islam.”

The foreign minster would not rule out the possibility of Denmark becoming more involved in the fight against IS, including militarily.

“Denmark has a particular responsibility because we have both the financial means and the will.’


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A survey carried out by Megafon for TV2 has found that 71 percent of parents have handed over children to daycare in spite of them being sick.

Moreover, 21 percent of those surveyed admitted to medicating their kids with paracetamol, such as Panodil, before sending them to school.

The FOLA parents’ organisation is shocked by the findings.

“I think it is absolutely crazy. It simply cannot be that a child goes to school sick and plays with lots of other children. Then we are faced with the fact that they will infect the whole institution,” said FOLA chair Signe Nielsen.

Pill pushers
At the Børnehuset daycare institution in Silkeborg a meeting was called where parents were implored not to bring their sick children to school.

At Børnehuset there are fears that parents prefer to pack their kids off with a pill without informing teachers.

“We occasionally have children who that they have had a pill for breakfast,” said headteacher Susanne Bødker. “You might think that it is a Panodil more than a vitamin pill, if it is a child who has just been sick, for example.”

Parents sick and tired
Parents, when confronted, often cite pressure at work as a reason for not being able to stay at home with their children.

Many declare that they simply cannot take another day off, as they are afraid of being fired.

Allan Randrup Thomsen, a professor of virology at KU, has heavily criticised the parents’ actions, describing the current situation as a “vicious circle”.

“It promotes the spread of viruses, and it adds momentum to a cycle where parents are pressured by high levels of sick-leave. If they then choose to send the children to daycare while they are still recovering, they keep the epidemic going in daycares, and this in turn puts a greater burden on the parents.”