Three individuals have been killed and at the very least three others have been critically damage in a capturing in Copenhagen on Sunday that despatched terrified consumers fleeing for security in Denmark’s largest procuring heart, the authorities mentioned.
Soren Thomassen, an inspector with the Copenhagen police, mentioned early on Monday native time that the useless included a person in his 40s and two younger individuals. He didn’t say how many individuals in whole have been injured, however mentioned that three have been in important situation.
He mentioned the police had taken a 22-year-old Dane into custody in reference to the capturing, which occurred round 6 p.m. native time. The authorities didn’t launch any details about a attainable motive, however believed that the person was performing alone.
“We are convinced that the man we arrested is the perpetrator,” Mr. Thomassen mentioned. “He had in his possession a rifle, and he had in his possession ammunition for that rifle.”
Gun violence in Denmark is comparatively uncommon, at the very least in contrast with the United States, the place shootings in public locations have grow to be commonplace. According to a repository of gun violence information saved by the University of Sydney, Denmark has somewhat over one gun loss of life per 100,000 individuals yearly, whereas the United States has somewhat over 12.
The capturing on Sunday occurred at Field’s procuring heart, which is described as 9 minutes from Copenhagen’s heart by way of the metro and hosts greater than 140 outlets that embody Danish and worldwide trend manufacturers.
A mall worker informed an area information outlet that “masses of people” had run to hunt shelter in the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant at Field’s. Staff members barricaded the doorways and remained there for about 45 minutes, the worker mentioned.
A witness, Mahdi Al-Wazni, informed TV 2 News that he had seen the gunman.
“He seemed violent and angry, and he was shouting as he ran,” he mentioned, including that he noticed the gunman smashing home windows on the mall.
Other witnesses described scenes of panic and of staff’ serving to consumers flee by the again rooms of shops. One girl informed TV 2 that she and her household had stopped at a retailer to get snacks for her 1-year-old daughter when the household heard a loud bang.
Rikke Olsen mentioned that her husband at first thought the noise was somebody setting off fireworks or throwing firecrackers. The noise was adopted by a touch of mall patrons operating towards the household.
Ms. Olsen rotated and noticed a person holding what gave the impression to be a rifle, which he was loading, she mentioned.
“I turn around and I run just as fast as I can holding my 3-year-old boy’s hand,” she mentioned. “I just pull him with me, and then I lose my grip, and people are stepping on him, because they’re running.”
She picked him up and continued to run.
In an announcement late Sunday, Denmark’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, urged Danes to be united in the aftermath of the “cruel attack.”
“Several people were killed,” she mentioned. “Even more were injured. Innocent families out shopping or eating. Children, young people and adults.”
“We have all been brutally torn out of the bright summer we had just begun,” she continued. “It is incomprehensible. Heartbreaking. Meaningless. Our beautiful and usually so safe capital was changed in a split second.”
At the time of the capturing, followers of Harry Styles had gathered close by in town’s Royal Arena ready for the previous One Direction singer to carry out. At about 8 p.m. the group of 17,000 have been informed the live performance could be postponed, however 90 minutes later have been informed the present had been canceled over “safety concerns,” the BBC reported.
“I’m heartbroken along with the people of Copenhagen,” Mr. Styles mentioned on Twitter. “I adore this city. The people are so warm and full of love. I’m devastated for the victims, their families, and everyone hurting. I’m sorry we couldn’t be together. Please look after each other.”
Christine Chung contributed reporting.
