Police arrested a man wearing military-style clothing at a McDonald's restaurant in Esbjerg, Denmark. Witnesses reported seeing a person with what appeared to be a rifle at the fast-food location Sunday morning.
The South and Southern Jutland Police responded to the restaurant around 9:40 AM. Officers confirmed the weapon was actually an air rifle designed to resemble an automatic weapon.
Police have charged the man with making threats and violating weapons laws. Michael Karlsen, the police watch commander, said the suspect did not point the weapon at anyone or make verbal threats.
"We unfortunately experience people bringing toy weapons into public spaces regularly," police stated on social media. "They don't consider the fear this can create in others."
The man's behavior alone prompted the charges despite no direct threats being made. Police must balance public safety concerns against individual freedoms in such situations.
Esbjerg is a major port city in southwestern Denmark known for its fishing industry and energy sector. The incident occurred during the busy Sunday morning breakfast period.
Danish law treats realistic-looking air rifles seriously when carried in public spaces. The country has strict weapons regulations compared to some other nations.
Police removed the man from the restaurant without incident. No injuries were reported during the arrest operation.