Students mourn teacher killed in Kabul attack

The Dane killed in Friday's terror attack in Kabul was Mette Teilmann Nielsen, 34, who had just taken leave from working as a teacher at the Copenhagen upper secondary school Nørre Gymnasium.

Nielsen was in Afghanistan to participate in the EU police mission in EUPOL and had previously worked for the UN in the country.

She was among 21 fatal victims when three Taleban terrorists attacked the Lebanese restaurant where she was dining on Friday night.

READ MORE: Dane killed in Kabul terror attack

Professional and engaged
According to Ekstra Bladet, Nielsen had taught history and social studies for the past 18 months, prior to which she had worked for a range of organisations in the fields of security, human rights and peace.

The head of Nørre Gymnasium, Jens Boe Nielsen (no relation to the victim), said that many students were shocked and saddened by the news.

“She was a teacher that was both professionally highly qualified, while also added an insight into what was happening out in the world," Nielsen told Ekstra Bladet. "Despite her young age, she was very experienced and was highly knowledgeable about what was going on in the world and in different organisations. It is certainly an enormous loss, both for her family and for the students who could have benefited from being taught by someone with her background."

READ MORE: Afghan interpreters given Danish visas

Vicious and inhuman attack
EUPOL Afghanistan was launched in 2007 and is tasked with helping establish a police force in Afghanistan.

It is led by Karl Åke Roghe, who condemned the attack that also claimed the life of a British EUPOL staff member.

“I am shocked and appalled by what has happened and our thoughts and deepest sympathies are very much with the family and friends of those involved," Roghe stated in a press release. "We are saddened and outraged by this atrocity and by the inhuman, vicious and wanton nature of the attack, in which many other internationals and Afghans have also tragically lost their lives."




  • The Lynch Interviews: Fergal O’Byrne

    The Lynch Interviews: Fergal O’Byrne

    English-Australian writer and theatre director Stuart Lynch contributes a monthly column titled “The Lynch Interviews”. In this series, he engages with prominent internationals residing in Denmark or Danish individuals with a global perspective. For April, he interviews Irish playwright and writer Fergal O’Byrne, fresh from an acclaimed season of a new English-language play in Copenhagen.

  • Why your talented internationals aren’t moving up the ladder – and what to do about it

    Why your talented internationals aren’t moving up the ladder – and what to do about it

    Many internationals find it difficult to advance in their new workplaces, and some quietly leave. It’s not because they lack talent. In Denmark, careers are shaped not only by skills but also by cultural understanding, informal networks, and social signals. However, internationals may not be familiar with this system or know how to navigate it

  • The international behind Donkey Republic: how a Turkish systems thinker reimagined urban mobility in Denmark

    The international behind Donkey Republic: how a Turkish systems thinker reimagined urban mobility in Denmark

    Erdem Ovacık, co-founder of Donkey Republic, built one of Europe’s leading bike-sharing companies from Denmark — but success as an international entrepreneur hasn’t come easy

  • Denmark hits 66.2 million overnight stays: what’s fueling the rise?

    Denmark hits 66.2 million overnight stays: what’s fueling the rise?

    In 2024, Denmark saw 1.5 million more overnight stays than in 2023, bringing the total to 66.2 million staying in hotels, holiday centers, campsites, and youth hostels. It’s clear: after COVID-19, traveling is now back on the table. But the question is: why are people choosing Denmark?

  • World Cup in Ice Hockey will face off in Herning

    World Cup in Ice Hockey will face off in Herning

    As in 2018, Denmark will co-host the Ice Hockey World Championship. And once again, Herning and Jyske Bank Boxen will be the hosts. Denmark is in Pool B and starts tonight with a match against the USA, which, given the political tensions between the two countries, may be an icy affair.

  • Diplomatic tensions between US and Denmark after spying rumors

    Diplomatic tensions between US and Denmark after spying rumors

    A Wall Street Journal article describes that the US will now begin spying in Greenland. This worries the Danish foreign minister, who wants an explanation from the US’s leading diplomat. Greenlandic politicians think that Trump’s actions increase the sense of insecurity

Connect Club is your gateway to a vibrant programme of events and an international community in Denmark.