ISIS sets sights on Denmark as EU nation wades into Iraq crisis

The Islamic State has declared Denmark an “enemy of Islam” and the country is on the militant organization’s radar. This is according to a Danish-Turkish jihadist, who only gave his name as OA and previously fought for the organization in Syria.

The 27 year-old, who was born and raised in Denmark says The Islamic State, who was previously known as ISIS, “has become very international and Denmark is high up on the list, believe me,” speaking to the Danish broadsheet newspaper, Politiken.

“Denmark is not my country. The Muslims’ country is the caliphate and inshallah there will soon be an attack here. Denmark should prepare itself,” the militant added as cited by The Local.

“It is an open war now. ISIS has said that all infidels should be battled. They should be eliminated and soon it will be Denmark’s turn,” OA continued.

The Danish born jihadist fought in Syria for Islamic State (IS), before returning back to Denmark, a country who he feels no affiliation for. Although he admits that IS is mainly concentrating its efforts in Syria and Iraq at the moment, things could change in the future.

“My battle lies in Syria. But you never know, brother. The prophet said that Allah showed him the eastern and western parts of the world and that they should be united in a caliphate. So Denmark might get its turn soon,” he said.

This is a Danish ISIS fighter killed during the attack on #Iraq’s 22nd Brigade base outside #Baghdad: pic.twitter.com/8Mgsd2Ykbt

— Charles Lister (@Charles_Lister) March 2, 2014

The news comes just days after Denmark stated it would contribute to the international campaign against IS in northern Iraq, with the EU nation saying it would deliver weapons and ammunition to Kurdish and Iraq government forces in the area.

Denmark’s Foreign Minister, Martin Liedegaard defended his country’s actions saying, “I’m pleased with the broad political support for Denmark’s contribution against ISIS in Iraq. ISIS is one of the biggest – if not the biggest – threats currently faced by the international community. Our contribution to the ongoing operation will obviously not eliminate ISIS but will be used to help the Iraqis to defend ISIS’s advances themselves,” the Local reported citing the Politiken newspaper.

AO is not the only Danish-born militant to have defected to fight for IS. In March, it was reported by the Copenhagen Post that a young Dane, who allegedly came from the Aarhus area of the country and went by the name of Abu Sa'ad al Denmarki had killed himself in a suicide attack.

The Derechos Human Rights Agency reported that IS had stated that “he had been mobilized from Denmark to the Islamic State, seeking martyrdom in the cause of Allah.” He died after driving a car packed with explosives into an Iraqi Army convoy near the city of Mosul.

The Danish intelligence agency PET, revealed in January 2014 that around 90 Danish citizens were fighting in the Syrian civil war.