A Swedish police officer lost his life after being subjected to violence at a World Cup event in Copenhagen. A suspected perpetrator has been arrested.
This happened during the screening of the round of 16 match between Ivory Coast and Norway on Tuesday evening. The event, which took place at Islands Brygge in central Copenhagen, was organised by the Norwegian company Fotballfesten.
The 32-year-old Swedish police officer Christian Zedig was subjected to gross violence after Haaland scored Norway’s second goal, which put Norway in the lead towards the end of the match. It is said that 7–8 people were involved in the subsequent brawl.
Police officer Zedig, who was on holiday in Copenhagen, is said to have tried to calm the situation. He was then attacked so brutally that he died later in hospital, according to Aftonbladet and several other sources.
It is claimed in several places that it was an African gang that started the trouble which ended with the police officer being killed. Danish police released a picture of a suspected perpetrator who had fled the scene. The picture of him can be seen below.
⚠️Update:
Manden, der groft overfaldte en svensk familiefar ved VM-arrangementet på Islands Brygge, er nu i politiets varetægt.
Han fremstilles kl 12.30 i et grundlovsforhør i dag.
Det oplyser politiet. https://t.co/CiY5HyRr5y pic.twitter.com/tVZ9CgUuVJ
— Marie🇩🇰🖤🇩🇰 (@Martiniqueping1) July 3, 2026
Managing director of Fotballfesten Geir Oterhals says the following to VG:
– We react with sorrow to the news that the senseless violent incident in Copenhagen has had a fatal outcome. Our thoughts go to the relatives and all others affected by what happened. We have been in contact with the relatives and expressed our deepest sympathy.
The prosecution states that the perpetrator delivered a powerful blow to the victim’s neck, which caused life-threatening injuries. The blow is said to have been unprovoked, according to TV 4 Nyhetarna.
The wanted African has now surrendered to the police and has been arrested, suspected and charged with the violent act, Danish police announced on Friday morning.
– A colleague has passed away, and we held a memorial service here this morning, says Mathias Ljung of the police in Höglandet.
Pictures of Zedig with his family and in the Swedish national team kit. The last picture shows the suspected perpetrator. Photo: X/ Visegrad 24
The 31-year-old suspected perpetrator, who is of African background, was today charged and remanded in custody for 26 days in court, according to B.T.
Already in 2017 the African was sentenced to seven years’ imprisonment for attempted murder.
In 2013 he was charged with a rape. B.T. is currently investigating whether the 31-year-old man was convicted of the offence.
He is also currently charged in another violent case. The case was due to be heard this spring but has been postponed.