Jewish community radio station shuts down in wake of terror attacks

Radio Shalom advised by PET to take a break while Jews across Europe demand more protection

Feb 17, 2015

For the first time in the station’s history, Radio Shalom did not broadcast its usual blend of programs about Jewish culture, music and history on Monday evening.

The control board located in a basement in Nørrebro was silenced for what host Abraham Kopenhagen called "security reasons".

“PET says it's too dangerous,” Kopenhagen told DR Nyheder. “We do not feel that it is too dangerous, but we respect the information we are given.”

No cops in the doorway
Kopenhagen said that Radio Shalom will be back on the air when PET tells them that it is safe. The security agency offered to protect the station while it was on air, but Kopenhagen turned them down.

“We must do as instructed, but we will not have police standing outside the door,” he said. "We would rather close down until it is quiet again. I do not know how long that will take.”

The radio station was not the only Jewish institution in Copenhagen that chose to shut its doors following the weekend's attacks, which included the fatal shooting of 37-year-old Dan Uzan, a guard standing in front of the synagogue on Krystalgade by Omar Abdel El-Hussein. The Jewish school Carolineskolen was also closed yesterday.

Calls for greater protection across Europe
Jews across Europe are fearful and calling for better protection in the wake of the Copenhagen attacks. Rabbis in both Britain and France called for better protection at synagogues and schools.

“There is much fear; people are afraid to go to synagogue,” Rabbi Menachem Margolin from the organisation European Jewish Community told DR Nyheder.

Rabbi Barry Marcus from London Central Synagogue called the weekend’s attacks “very uncomfortable, very disturbing and extremely troubling”.

A war on democracy
Margolin said he was “not surprised” by the Copenhagen attacks and wants all Jewish institutions in Europe to be given 24/7 police protection.

“We are disappointed that European governments still do not listen to our cries for help and ensure that all Jews are protected,” he said.

Rabbi Marcus said that simply beefing up security is not enough.

“For us it is very clear what is happening in Europe,” he said. “There is an attack on western European democracy and its values.”