The attack took place during the night of 12-13 January 2025, when the perpetrators set fire to Global Aktion's premises in Copenhagen. The blaze caused extensive damage to the organisation's offices and endangered residents living in the same building. Investigators later discovered an unexploded hand grenade at the scene.

Alongside the arson attack, pro-Moroccan slogans had been painted on the pavement outside Global Aktion's offices. The messages included "Sahara belongs to Morocco" and denunciations of the Western Sahara liberation movement.

During the trial, it emerged that police had found text messages containing the same wording on phones seized from the accused, linking the defendants to the graffiti at the scene.

Four young men are standing trial in the Copenhagen City Court. According to Danish media and Global Aktion, the defendants are alleged to have links to the banned gang “Loyal to Familia” (LTF). Prosecutors are reportedly examining whether the accused acted on behalf of unidentified third parties.

Morten Nielsen of Global Aktion appeared in court this week as a witness. He told the court that the slogans left outside the building strongly suggest a connection between the attack and Global Aktion's solidarity work for Western Sahara.

"In light of the graffiti painted on the sidewalk stating, among other things, that the Sahara belongs to Morocco, there is little doubt that persons or organisations with ties to Morocco were behind it," Nielsen said after his testimony.

Global Aktion has consistently maintained that the attack was politically motivated and linked to its decades-long support for the Saharawi people's right to self-determination. The organisation has argued that the attack should be viewed as an assault on freedom of expression and international solidarity.

WSRW condemned the firebombing when it occurred and expressed solidarity with Global Aktion. The two organizations have worked closely together for decades to document and challenge the exploitation of natural resources in occupied Western Sahara.

A verdict in the case is expected at the end of June.
 

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