The Justice Minister of Denmark has confirmed that the US sent a rendition flight to Copenhagen Airport to capture whistleblower Edward Snowden.
The revelation that the US landed a private aircraft in Copenhagen intended to capture Snowden in June 2013 was first reported last month by the Danish online media Denfri, but Danish officials initially denied the report.
Justice Minister Søren Pind told the Danish parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee the US was granted permission to use Danish airspace and land a plane at Copenhagen Airport to transport Edward Snowden to America.
“The purpose of the plane’s presence at Copenhagen Airport was apparently to have the ability to transport Edward Snowden to the USA in case he was delivered from Russia or another country,” Mr Pind said in a written statement seen by the Local.
Snowden tweeted about the incident, saying it “seems to confirm Denmark intended to violate principle of non-refoulement as I sought asylum”.
DK Att. Gen. seems to confirm Denmark intended to violate principle of non-refoulement as I sought asylum. (Danish:) https://t.co/u5FEIL0mw3
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) February 5, 2016
Remember when the PM #Rasmussen said Denmark shouldn’t respect asylum law in my case? Turns out he had a secret. https://t.co/8K6cYuvAhv
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) January 27, 2016