A man with ties to a gang environment is appealing to the Eastern High Court for release in a case involving the Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET), where he stands accused of involvement in a plan to acquire drones for Hamas. The 28-year-old vehemently denies violating terrorism provisions in the penal code.

The High Court has granted the man an unusual oral hearing to address his pre-trial detention, departing from the typical written process. His lawyer, Kåre Traberg Smidt, has not disclosed the specific reasons warranting the expedited hearing.

The Court of Frederiksberg initially ruled on May 19 that there was justified suspicion against the man, leading to his remand in custody.

The 28-year-old is identified by PET as a leading figure in the banned gang Loyal To Familia and is believed to have connections to Hamas. He was a suspect in a December 2023 operation conducted by PET and several police districts, but was abroad at the time.

He was extradited from Lebanon to Denmark in December after a year-long process, allegedly transported by military plane.

The extradition was based on a warrant related to a double murder at a Meny supermarket in Kalundborg in November 2020, for which he has been held since late December.

During a recent court hearing in Frederiksberg, PET’s case was added.

For the first time since the PET action 17 months ago, the Copenhagen Police and PET disclosed the core of the case to the public.

The man is accused of participating in the online ordering of three drones for over a quarter of a million kroner. The drones were delivered to an address in Copenhagen on November 7, 2023, one month after the attack into Israel from Gaza.

The evidence supporting the charge and the man’s explanation remain confidential.