Algerian dies during deportation by Danish police

An Algerian man has died two days after he was treated “roughly” by Danish police on board an aircraft while being deported to Paris, Anadolu reported on Friday.

A report in the Danish tabloid Extra Bladet said that the 34-year-old was escorted by police to Copenhagen Airport on Monday for deportation. A struggle apparently took place which lasted 30 minutes. The local report explained that two policemen then stood over the body of the Algerian citizen and kept him motionless. When his condition deteriorated, a doctor carried out a medical examination on board the aircraft before the man was evacuated to hospital, where he passed away two days later.

According to Michael Thorvaldssen, who was next to the Algerian on the plane, there were three police officers dealing with the deportee. “Two of them were leaning on him, and the third was holding him back in his seat,” he explained. “There was also a female officer who was guarding the way for passengers as they boarded the aircraft.” This situation lasted for half an hour, he said.

“Shortly afterwards, they asked over the loudspeaker if there was a doctor on board, and it turned out there was. The doctor gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and CPR until an ambulance came and took him away.” Thorvaldssen added that, in his opinion, the police were “far too rough” with the Algerian.

Denmark’s Independent Police Complaints Authority has opened an investigation into the incident.