In a bizarrely planned event on Sunday evening, three men in their 30s were arrested in Vesterbro, a district in Copenhagen. They are charged with threatening a taxi driver’s life as part of a recording intended for social media.

Two of the men entered the taxi carrying a bag and shouted that there was a bomb inside, before quickly exiting the vehicle. The startled taxi driver instinctively slammed on the gas, driving over a bicycle lane and onto a grassy area along Otto Busses Vej, a street in Copenhagen.

The Copenhagen Police (Københavns Politi) confirmed the incident on social media and emphasized the seriousness of the case. “Although it did not lead to significant physical harm to individuals, we take this very seriously. The individuals involved can expect compensation claims for damages to the taxi if they are convicted,” the police stated.

Deputy Police Inspector Jesper Beuschel from the Department for Community Crime warned against such actions. “At a time of global insecurity, it is particularly irresponsible to create situations that frighten people. We take incidents like these very seriously and encourage everyone to think carefully before exposing others to anything that might be perceived as dangerous.”

A general warning was also issued regarding the risks of using imitation weapons in public spaces. “It can be difficult to distinguish between real guns and replicas, and one runs the risk of being detained by the police if someone believes they are armed,” Beuschel stressed.

This incident highlights how dangerous a “practical joke” can become, especially in a society marked by insecurity.