Danish police arrest 10 after string of armed robberies

Police arrested 10 people, some in their teens, in pre-dawn raids Tuesday after a string of armed robberies on supermarkets. Police said the eight young men and two women, ranging in age from 14 to 21, are suspected of 21 armed robberies since Sept. 7. The crimes were all committed by masked robbers, wielding guns or knives, who got away with amounts of up to 72,000 kroner (Ђ9,700; US$11,620) in cash. Police said their pattern was to strike just before closing time at stores in the capital of Copenhagen and nearby towns. Police withheld the names of the suspects in line with Danish privacy rules. The suspects faced custody hearings later Tuesday. Last week, police arrested two masked men with a gun and knives in a stolen car outside a supermarket. They are also suspected of having links to the robbery ring.

Copenhagen police spokesman Johnny Lundberg said the gang is believed to have six to eight core members, plus others with looser ties to the group, reports the AP. I.L.