Denmark’s domestic security on Tuesday designated Covid-linked “anti-governmental extremism” as a menace for the first time ever. The agency, known by its Danish acronym PET, said in its annual assessment that although this type of extremism is not “a significant driving force for the terrorist threat” in the country, it does make the situation “more complex.”

PET said the menace which expresses the need to use violence against elected representatives, had appeared in connection with the Covid-19 pandemic. Michael Hamann, head of PET’s Centre for Terror Analysis, said in certain cases criticism has been expressed by “threats and intimidation” in Denmark, while there have been examples abroad “of planning or carrying out actual violent acts.” Though, anti-government extremism is “limited in level”, he added.