Copenhagen’s mayor, Frank Jensen, has called on the justice minister, Søren Pape Poulsen, to give the police the authority to confiscate jetskis from owners who operate them illegally.
The move comes a day after the tragedy that left two young US exchange students killed after their small boat was rammed by a jetski rider who lost control of his vessel in the city harbour.
“Yes, we have a problem in Copenhagen Harbour with crazy sailing, and I often witness the hazardous sailing of jetskis and water scooters in the harbour myself,” Jensen told DR Nyheder.
“It’s forbidden to sail in our harbour using water scooters or jetskis. So there must be some tough sanctions in place. We can’t live with water scooters and jetskis being operated in a manner that endangers the many people using our harbour.”
Manslaughter charges
More details have now surfaced regarding the tragedy that took place on Saturday evening.
The accident took place at about 19:43 near Langebro Bridge when an out-of-control jetski hit a GoBoat rental boat carrying seven people on board.
Following the accident, the group of jetskiers fled the scene and were later arrested in Brøndby Harbour.
Eight of the group, whose ages range from 22-31, have been charged with recklessly endangering others, while a 24-year-old man has additionally been charged with manslaughter and for fleeing the scene of an accident.
Seven of the eight arrested have been released, while the 24-year-old is being held on remand until June 1. All eight have pleaded not guilty.
