The actor Rasmus Hammerich expanded the 7pm clap-along, which he launched on a small scale near his home in Copenhagen's Vesterbro district, into a national event on Monday morning, after more than 16,000 people expressed interest in less than 24 hours. 

 

“My Facebook account is lit,” he laughed, when The Local contacted him. “I think it's a good idea for everybody to recognise that we're still here, that we're in this together, and that we're doing this for a reason.” 

 

The group's Facebook page asks people to “clap and make some noise for Denmark”: “Let us applaud those holding the system together! Let us applause those sitting alone, so they don't feel so alone! Let's give cheer because we are together in all this!” 

 

Hammerich said he had decided not to follow the Italian and Spanish example and ask people to sing a particular song “because the singing tradition in Denmark isn't so great and I thought people would be too shy to do it”.  He said he also felt songs were “too personal”  

 

“Some people don't like the national anthem, some people do, so I say 'if you want to sing, then sing',  but I won't recommend any song.” 

 

Hammerich said that in Vesterbro on Sunday night, the applause and noise he and his friends made cheering and bashing pots had had quickly rippled through the streets. 

 

“Because it was so quiet, people opened their own windows and started doing it. At the end of the three minutes, people in my street in Copenhagen started shouting 'good night' to everybody and it was really beautiful.” 

 

He is calling on those who join the event on Monday evening end by shouting in unison “Good night, see you in the morning!”. 

 

Here's a video of the clapping, cheering and pot banging in Vesterbro on Sunday night (courtesy of Maria Bartholomaeussen).