An important question has now been clarified: According to the police, the deadly shots in Copenhagen are not terrorism. But the question of the motive remains open.
According to the police, a lone gunman is responsible for the killing spree in a Copenhagen shopping center with at least three deaths. In all probability, it is not a terrorist attack, said chief inspector Søren Thomassen on Monday.
“There is no evidence in the investigations, documents or testimonies that could prove that it is terrorism,” said Thomassen. The perpetrator apparently fired at randomly selected victims. Immediately after the crime, officials arrested a 22-year-old Dane.
Probably no racist background
The perpetrator fired in two places in the shopping center. A 47-year-old man with Russian citizenship who lived in Denmark died as a result, as did two Danish 17-year-old youths, a girl and a boy. In addition, at least four people were injured: 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. They are all in critical but initially stable condition. In addition, some people were slightly injured when they fled the mall in panic, the chief inspector said.
Thomassen said the arrested person had sought help in a psychiatric ward in the past. The police searched an apartment in the Valby district of Copenhagen.
Thomassen initially did not want to comment on a possible motive. Already on Monday night he had emphasized that there was no evidence of a racist background that was speculated on social media. Amateur video from inside the building showed a man walking past shops with a long gun in hand.
A former homicide chief, Jens Møller, told TV2 that the perpetrator apparently did not fire indiscriminately into the crowd. “If you shoot and three victims die and four others are in critical condition, the shots are clearly aimed,” said Møller.
The royal family was concerned
“We do not know the motive so far, but I can assure you that the authorities are doing everything they can to clarify this case and those responsible can be prosecuted,” said Justice Minister Mattias Tesfaye on the night of the Ritzau agency. Thomassen said the suspect faces manslaughter charges. However, the allegation could still change.
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 during these hours,” said a statement from Queen Margrethe II and the crown prince couple – Frederik and Mary – late Sunday evening. The royal family was affected by the “shocking news”. After the fact became known, the royal family had already canceled a reception with Crown Prince Frederik.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen condemned the act as a “cruel attack”. She called on the people of the country to stick together and support one another. “We were all brutally torn from the bright summer we had just begun,” shared Fredriksen. “It is incomprehensible. heartbreaking. useless. Our beautiful and otherwise so safe capital was changed in a fraction of a second.»
Harry Styles concert has been cancelled
The crime scene was still cordoned off on Monday morning. “We are conducting a full investigation and continue to work in and around (the mall) Field’s,” police tweeted. Many people were waiting for the area to be cleared and they could pick up their cars parked there. “We are working on a solution,” the police said.
A performance by British singer Harry Styles at a nearby concert hall was canceled because of the attack. The pop star offered his condolences to the victims and their families. “I’m heartbroken, as are the people of Copenhagen. I admire this city. People are so warm and full of love, »wrote the 28-year-old on Twitter. “I’m sorry we couldn’t be together. Please take care of each other,” Styles wrote.
