Greta Thunberg was not arrested for 'protesting against Israel's genocide'

What's the claim?

On Wednesday morning, September 4, 2024, Copenhagen Police arrested six people during a pro-Palestinian demonstration in central Copenhagen, Denmark. 

Posts on social media falsely claim that one of the apprehended demonstrators, Swedish activist Greta Thunberg, was arrested "for demonstrating against Israel's genocide in Gaza," as one Facebook post read. 

While Thunberg was arrested, it wasn't due to her taking part in a pro-Palestinian protest. 

In fact

The protesters were blocking the entrance of a University of Copenhagen administrative building, demanding the University stop collaborating with Israeli Universities. 

Copenhagen Police told Logically Facts that this blocking and entering led to the arrest of six demonstrators.

"At 7.34 we were notified that activists were blocking an entrance and that some had entered the building. Six people were apprehended and charged with husfredskrænkelse (‘trespassing’, ed.). They were all released early in the afternoon, but are still under indictment," the police said. 

Sources told Logically Facts that employees at the university contacted the police as "masked" people entered the building. Students Against the Occupation, the student group in charge of the blockade, told Logically Facts that about 15-20 people entered the building and that they had been wearing medical masks and keffiyehs — scarves commonly worn by Palestine supporters — for their own protection.

According to Danish criminal law, it is illegal to gain unauthorized access to a stranger's house or an area not freely accessible and to fail to leave a stranger's grounds after being asked to do so. Husfredskrænkelse is punishable by a fine or up to 6 months in prison.

The police didn't disclose that Thunberg was one of the arrested parties, but Thunberg shared a video to her Instagram account showing her being taken into a police van, and both reporting in Danish media and Students Against the Occupation confirmed as much. 

Recently, on August 24, a large pro-Palestine demonstration, named "All of Denmark takes to the streets for a free Palestine," was held in Copenhagen. At least several hundreds participated, yet there were no reports of arrests. The Copenhagen Police informed Logically Facts that the demonstration had proceeded in a calm and orderly fashion. The Danish constitution recognizes citizens' right to gather for peaceful assembly.

At least several hundreds gathered in the streets of Copenhagen for a pro-Palestine demonstration on August 24, 2024. The demonstration proceeded in a calm and orderly fashion, according to the Copenhagen Police. (Source: europe.palestine.network/Instagram/Screenshot)

The verdict

Greta Thunberg was arrested by Danish police while participating in a pro-Palestinian demonstration. However, she was arrested for trespassing—not solely for participating in the protest—as protesters blocked and entered a university building. Therefore, we have marked this claim as misleading.