Denmark: Three dead after shooting in shopping center – suspect arrested

BAt least three people have been shot dead in a bloody crime in a shopping center in Copenhagen. The victims are a man between the ages of 40 and 50 and two young people, police chief inspector Søren Thomassen said on Monday night in the Danish capital, according to local media. Three other people were seriously injured and in critical condition.

Thomassen did not provide any information about the possible motive. There is speculation about a racist background on social media, he said. There is currently no evidence for 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.

The arrested person is to be questioned on Monday, it was said. He will be charged with manslaughter. But 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.

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Copenhagen Mayor Sophie H. Andersen was appalled by the “terrible” shots fired at Field’s shopping mall. A reception with the Danish Crown Prince Frederik on a ship has been cancelled.

It is the second time in a short period of time that there has been an attack in a Scandinavian capital. Just over a week ago, two people were killed and 21 others injured in a gay bar in Oslo. The Norwegian secret service PST classifies the attack as an Islamist terrorist attack.

Eyewitness Laurits Hermansen told broadcaster DR about the shots in Copenhagen that he heard three or four very loud bangs when he was in a shop with his family. Then other people ran into the store and reported shots, and he and his family fled through an emergency exit, Hermansen said.

“Suddenly chaos broke out everywhere”

A helicopter hovered over the area. The area has been cordoned off. The police called on eyewitnesses to provide video and photo material.

Witnesses also told the Jyllands-Posten newspaper that they had heard shots. “You didn’t know what was happening. Suddenly chaos broke out everywhere,” 20-year-old Emilie Jeppesen told the newspaper. Her friend Astrid Kofoed Jørgensen said: “Everyone in the restaurant was sent to the kitchen, then we sat there and we could hear three or four shots.”

Media: Harry Styles concert in Copenhagen canceled

Field’s is a large shopping center in the relatively new district of Ørestad in the south of Copenhagen. The large multi-purpose hall Royal Arena is also nearby. A sold-out concert by British singer Harry Styles was planned there on Sunday. According to the media, this was canceled after the fatal shots.

Several thousand fans were initially allowed into the hall and waited there. The television station TV2 reported on Sunday evening that the fans in the hall had been told that the concert would not take place for security reasons. The fans were asked to leave the hall calmly.

After the shots became known, the organizer initially announced on Facebook that the concert would still take place. However, that was before deaths were reported. Hundreds of users criticized the organizer’s first decision on social media.

Danish royal family calls for cohesion after shots

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 shocked by the “shocking news”. “We do not yet know the full extent of the tragedy, but it is already clear that several people have lost their lives and more people have been injured,” the statement said. “Our thoughts and deepest sympathy are with the victims, their families and all those affected by the tragedy.”

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 could give their testimony and receive psychological support.