Fake firearm leads to police response on South Campus

The University of Copenhagen (UCPH)’s South Campus was the scene of a minor incident Monday, when Copenhagen Police responded to a report of a weapon inside the university buildings.

The weapon turned out to be a realistic-looking replica, the police wrote on the social media platform X, and that there was no danger.

Copenhagen Police initially charged two individuals connected to UCPH for violating weapons laws, according to Danish news agency Ritzau. The charge against one of them has since been dropped, police told the University Post.

The realistic replica turned out to be a hardball pistol, intended for use in a video shoot for an orientation programme for new students.

According to the University Post’s information, the orientation programme is part of the Film and Media Studies department. The University Post contacted the tutor group from Film and Media Studies, but they declined to comment or take part in an interview.

South Campus director Martin Sonnefeld Jørgensen also declined to be interviewed, referring instead to the UCPH press office. The press office said it had no further comment on the matter.

Hardball weapons are a type of softgun that closely resemble real firearms, but shoot small plastic pellets instead.

According to Danish law, it is illegal to carry hardball weapons visibly in public spaces. They may only be transported in connection with purchase, sale, or repair, as well as between home and shooting range — and must be securely packed during transport.

This article was first written in Danish and published on 13 August 2025. It has been translated into English and post-edited by Mike Young.