The police cordon off a large area of the Danish capital Copenhagen – but many questions remain unanswered after the bloody crime in a Copenhagen shopping center. Is the arrested 22-year-old the perpetrator? And why was he firing at the crowd?
After the bloody crime in a Copenhagen shopping center with at least three dead, the Danish police are feverishly looking for the background to the crime. “We do not yet know the motive, but I can assure you that the authorities are doing everything they can to clarify this case and so that those responsible can be prosecuted,” Justice Minister Mattias Tesfaye told the Ritzau agency.
Attack in Copenhagen not a terror, according to the police
According to the Danish police, the attack was not a terrorist act. “There is no evidence in the investigation, documents or testimonies that could prove that it is terrorism,” chief inspector Soren Thomassen said on Monday, according to TV2. The alleged perpetrator fired indiscriminately at people. A 47-year-old man with Russian citizenship who lived in Denmark and two 17-year-olds died. In addition, at least four people were injured, including two Swedes.
Thomassen said the suspected shooter appeared to have acted alone. There is no evidence that the arrested 22-year-old Dane had accomplices. The man had sought help in a psychiatric ward in the past. Thomassen initially did not want to comment on a motive. The police had previously searched an apartment in the Valby district of Copenhagen.
Two injured from Denmark and two from Sweden
The injured are a 40-year-old and a 19-year-old Danish woman and a 50-year-old man and a 16-year-old woman from Sweden, said the chief inspector. In addition, some people were slightly injured when they fled the mall in panic.
Thomassen said there was speculation on social media about a racist background. There is currently no evidence of this. The police arrested a 22-year-old Dane in connection with the crime. The suspected shooter was “basically known” to the police, said Thomassen. He did not provide any further information on this. Police believe the perpetrator acted alone. “Until we are absolutely certain that the hypothesis is correct, we will conduct a wide-ranging investigation and maintain a massive operational presence in Copenhagen until we can say he was alone,” Thomassen said. The man had a gun and ammunition with him when he was arrested. Another weapon may have been involved.
Gunshots were heard on amateur video from inside the building. Others showed a man walking past shops with a long gun in hand. The arrested person is to be questioned this Monday, it was said. He will be charged with manslaughter. However, the allegation could still change. The police initially did not want to say whether the man was a member of a rifle club and whether he legally owned the gun.
The Danish royal family called for cohesion. “The situation requires unity and care, and we thank the police, the emergency services and the health authorities for their quick and effective action in these hours,” said a statement from Queen Margrethe II and the crown prince couple – Frederik and Mary – late Sunday evening. The royal family was shocked by the “shocking news”. “Our thoughts and deepest sympathy are with the victims, their families and all those affected by the tragedy.” After the fact became known, the royal family had already canceled a reception with Crown Prince Frederik.
Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen called the act a “cruel attack”
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen condemned the act as a “cruel attack”. She urged the people of the country to stick together and support each other. “We were all brutally snapped out of the bright summer we had just begun,” shared Fredriksen. “It’s incomprehensible. Heartbreaking. Pointless. Our beautiful and otherwise safe capital city has been transformed in a split second.”
Emergency services cordoned off the entire island of Zealand, on which the Danish capital is located. Several roads and highway exits were closed. In order to have more forces available to investigate the bloody deed, soldiers took over guard duties from the police. The authorities set up a place where eyewitnesses can give their testimony and receive psychological support.
Harry Styles canceled his planned concert
A performance by British singer Harry Styles at a nearby concert hall has been cancelled. The concert organizer Live Nation announced that this was done on the orders of the Danish police. It was initially unclear whether the show would be rescheduled. “We are all devastated by the events of the day and our thoughts are with the victims and their families.” It is assumed that many concertgoers stayed in the shopping center just a few hundred meters away, for example to eat something else.
