This article is from the source 'independent' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/copenhagen-shootings-police-shoot-dead-man-they-believe-was-responsible-for-two-deadly-attacks-on-a-cafe-and-synagogue-10046859.html

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Copenhagen shootings: Police shoot dead man they believe was responsible for two deadly attacks on a cafe and synagogue Copenhagen shootings: Police shoot dead man they believe was responsible for two deadly attacks on a cafe and synagogue
(about 2 hours later)
Police in Copenhagen have shot dead a man they believe was responsible for two shootings that claimed the lives of two civilians just hours apart. Danish police have shot and killed the man they believe was responsible for two shooting attacks that claimed the lives of two civilians in Copenhagen within hours of each other.
Officers had an address in the Norrebro area of the Danish city under observation and hailed the man as he approached before he opened fire on them and was shot, police said. Danish officers confronted the shooter as he returned to an address they had been keeping under surveillance in the Norrebro district of the city. The man was then killed in a fire-fight with police.
Investigator Joergen Skov told reporters the preliminary probe showed nothing that suggested there were other gunmen involved in the two earlier attacks, in which a man died after being shot in the head near a synagogue and a a 55-year-old man was killed at a freedom-of-speech event. Investigator Jorgen Skov told reporters that “nothing at this point suggests there were other perpetrators” in the two shootings that had also wounded five police officers.
The second deadly attack took place in the Krystalgade area of the city, with two police officers also shot in the arm and leg and the gunman fleeing from the scene on foot. Bullet holes are seen in the window and door of Krudttonden cafe after shots were reportedly fired during a discussion meeting about art, blasphemy and free speech in Copenhagen (EPA) Denmark’s prime minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt described the first shooting, which bore similarities to the deadly attacks at the newspaper Charlie Hebdo’s offices, as a terrorist attack.
Bullet holes are seen in the window and door of Krudttonden cafe after shots were reportedly fired during a discussion meeting about art, blasphemy and free speech in Copenhagen (EPA) The gunman used an automatic weapon to shoot through the windows of the Krudttoenden cultural centre during a freedom of speech event at around 4pm on Saturday, killing a 55-year-old man and wounding three officers.
A manhunt had already begun for the gunman who opened fire at an event at a Krudttonden cafe, leaving one citizen dead and three police officers injured. The event was hosting Swedish artist Lars Vilks, a cartoonist who had received death threats for depicting the Prophet Mohammad on the body of a dog in 2007.
The gathering featured Swedish cartoonist and historian Lars Vilks, who depicted the Prophet Mohammed with the body of a dog in 2007. A man-hunt had already begun when the second shooting occurred after midnight at a Synagogue in the Krystalgade area of the city. The attack left a Jewish man dead while two police officers were shot in the arm and leg, with the gunman fleeing on foot. 
In the cafe attack police said both Mr Vilks and French ambassador to Denmark Francois Zimeray, who was also at the event, were both unharmed. The three police officers were also “out of danger”, they said. Helicopters had been roaring overhead and armoured vehicles prowling the streets as part of the hunt for the gunman when he was discovered.
Danish prime minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt told reporters in the Danish capital last night: “We feel certain now that it's a politically motivated attack, and thereby it is a terrorist attack. “We assume that it’s the same culprit behind both incidents… that was shot by the police,” Chief police inspector Torben Molgaard Jensen told reporters.
Police swamped the area after the café was evacuated (AP) Police had issued a blurred photograph of the suspect wearing dark clothes with a scarf covering part of his face. Investigators had described him as aged between 25 and 30 and as having an athletic build, and carrying a black automatic weapon.
Police said it was possible the gunman had been planning the "same scenario" as had played out in the Charlie Hebdo massacre.
Prime minister Thorning-Schmidt told reporters in the Danish capital last night: “We feel certain now that it's a politically motivated attack, and thereby it is a terrorist attack.
”We take this situation extremely seriously. We are in a high alarm all over the country, and our main priority at this stage is to catch the perpetrators and make sure that we find them as soon as possible.“”We take this situation extremely seriously. We are in a high alarm all over the country, and our main priority at this stage is to catch the perpetrators and make sure that we find them as soon as possible.“
Prime Minister David Cameron led British condemnation of the attack. He said his thoughts were with the Danish people, tweeting: ”I condemn the shootings in Copenhagen. Freespeech must always be protected.“ In the cafe attack police said both Mr Vilks and French ambassador to Denmark Francois Zimeray, who was also at the event, were both unharmed. The three police officers were also “out of danger”, they said.
Vilks, 68, who had been escorted to safety by body guards during the attack, told the Associated Press he believed he was the intended target of the first shooting.
"What other motive could there be? It's possible it was inspired by Charlie Hebdo," he said. He had been part of a panel discussion entitled "Art, Blasphemy And The Freedom Of Expression".
Prime Minister David Cameron led British condemnation of the attack. He said his thoughts were with the Danish people, tweeting: ”I condemn the shootings in Copenhagen. Free speech must always be protected.“
And Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond tweeted: ”Appalled by shootings in Copenhagen. My thoughts are with those affected and their family and friends.“And Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond tweeted: ”Appalled by shootings in Copenhagen. My thoughts are with those affected and their family and friends.“
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: ”Sickened by shooting at free speech event in Copenhagen. My thoughts are with the people of the city and country.“Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: ”Sickened by shooting at free speech event in Copenhagen. My thoughts are with the people of the city and country.“
Police swamped the area after the café was evacuated (AP) Danish police, who initially said they were searching for two suspects, issued a picture of the main suspect taken on street cameras near where the getaway car, a VW Polo, which was later found dumped.
Danish police, who initially said they were searching for two suspects, issued a picture of the main suspect taken on street cameras near where the getaway car, a VW Polo, was later found dumped. Mr Zimeray tweeted from his FranceDK account shortly after the shooting, writing: ”Still alive in the room."
Mr Zimeray tweeted from his FranceDK account shortly after the shooting, writing: ”Still alive in the room.“
The cafe in northern Copenhagen was hosting an event titled Art, Blasphemy And The Freedom Of Expression when the shots were fired, according to reports.
It comes little more than a month after the attack on the offices of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris, which left 12 people dead.
According to larsvilks.com, the event was marking the anniversary of the fatwa against Salman Rushdie. As well as Mr Vilks, Inna Shevchenko from the feminist protest group Femen was also present.According to larsvilks.com, the event was marking the anniversary of the fatwa against Salman Rushdie. As well as Mr Vilks, Inna Shevchenko from the feminist protest group Femen was also present.
It added that the Lars Vilks Committee, set up to support the cartoonist and freedom of expression, awarded its 2014 freedom prize to Charlie Hebdo last October.It added that the Lars Vilks Committee, set up to support the cartoonist and freedom of expression, awarded its 2014 freedom prize to Charlie Hebdo last October.
Jodie Ginsberg, chief executive of Index on Censorship, condemned the attack, saying: ”The use of violence on a gathering exploring the intersection of religious and artistic freedom should send shivers down our spines.Jodie Ginsberg, chief executive of Index on Censorship, condemned the attack, saying: ”The use of violence on a gathering exploring the intersection of religious and artistic freedom should send shivers down our spines.
“The Charlie Hebdo murders inspired intensified public debate about free speech and its value.“The Charlie Hebdo murders inspired intensified public debate about free speech and its value.
”Many people who had previously given little thought to free speech were drawn for the first time into online discussions or attended events to help them get a better understanding of the issues.”Many people who had previously given little thought to free speech were drawn for the first time into online discussions or attended events to help them get a better understanding of the issues.
“It would be terrible if violent acts such as that in Copenhagen shut down free speech even further.”“It would be terrible if violent acts such as that in Copenhagen shut down free speech even further.”
“The ability to express ourselves freely, to attend meetings and debates without fear of violence, is fundamental to a free society. Free speech must be protected.”“The ability to express ourselves freely, to attend meetings and debates without fear of violence, is fundamental to a free society. Free speech must be protected.”
As police put the area around Krystalgade on lockdown, Sebastian Zepeda, 19, from London, said he did not want to leave his hotel room after hearing of the first shooting and was texting his mother when the second shooting happened in the street below. Additional reporting by agencies
“I was on my bed and I heard gunshots. And my heart raced,” he said. “All of a sudden the road was packed with police.”
PA