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| Danish police kill suspect in pair of deadly shootings | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| COPENHAGEN — Police in Copenhagen killed a gunman early Sunday they believe was responsible for a pair of deadly attacks just hours earlier, the first at a cafe hosting a forum on free speech and the second outside a synagogue where a bat mitzvah was underway. | COPENHAGEN — Police in Copenhagen killed a gunman early Sunday they believe was responsible for a pair of deadly attacks just hours earlier, the first at a cafe hosting a forum on free speech and the second outside a synagogue where a bat mitzvah was underway. |
| The killings, with their eerie echo of last month’s terrorist attacks in Paris, had sent Denmark’s capital into lockdown and had prompted a widespread manhunt that extended across the border into Sweden. In all, the attacks left two people dead and five police officers injured. | The killings, with their eerie echo of last month’s terrorist attacks in Paris, had sent Denmark’s capital into lockdown and had prompted a widespread manhunt that extended across the border into Sweden. In all, the attacks left two people dead and five police officers injured. |
| Jens Madsen, head of the Danish security agency PET, said in a news conference Sunday that the suspect had been known to intelligence agencies and that they were investigating whether he may have been “inspired by the events in Paris.” | Jens Madsen, head of the Danish security agency PET, said in a news conference Sunday that the suspect had been known to intelligence agencies and that they were investigating whether he may have been “inspired by the events in Paris.” |
| Widespread reports in the Danish media identified the gunman as Omar Abdel Hamid el-Hussein and said he had been recently released from prison. Danish police would not confirm the reports. | Widespread reports in the Danish media identified the gunman as Omar Abdel Hamid el-Hussein and said he had been recently released from prison. Danish police would not confirm the reports. |
| In a statement Sunday evening, police said only that the suspect was 22, Danish-born, and known to police for several crimes, including possession of weapons and a history of assault. | In a statement Sunday evening, police said only that the suspect was 22, Danish-born, and known to police for several crimes, including possession of weapons and a history of assault. |
| At a news conference on Sunday morning, Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt said the country had been “hit by terror.” | At a news conference on Sunday morning, Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt said the country had been “hit by terror.” |
| “We do not know the motive for the alleged perpetrator’s actions, but we know that there are forces that want to hurt Denmark,” the prime minister said, adding that they wanted to stifle Denmark’s freedom of speech. | “We do not know the motive for the alleged perpetrator’s actions, but we know that there are forces that want to hurt Denmark,” the prime minister said, adding that they wanted to stifle Denmark’s freedom of speech. |
| In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was time for European Jews to leave the continent and move to Israel. | In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was time for European Jews to leave the continent and move to Israel. |
| Local media identified the victims as Finn Noergaard, a 55-year-old documentary filmmaker, and Dan Uzan, a 37-year-old community volunteer, who was shot in the head as he guarded the entrance to the synagogue. | Local media identified the victims as Finn Noergaard, a 55-year-old documentary filmmaker, and Dan Uzan, a 37-year-old community volunteer, who was shot in the head as he guarded the entrance to the synagogue. |
| Jeppe Juhl, a Danish journalist who knew Uzan, said the volunteer was “very active in the Jewish community. He studied economics at University of Copenhagen and for many years had worked in local security. A lovable, lovable guy.” | Jeppe Juhl, a Danish journalist who knew Uzan, said the volunteer was “very active in the Jewish community. He studied economics at University of Copenhagen and for many years had worked in local security. A lovable, lovable guy.” |
| “He gave his life for 80 people,” Juhl said, referring to the hall behind the synagogue where about 80 people were celebrating. | “He gave his life for 80 people,” Juhl said, referring to the hall behind the synagogue where about 80 people were celebrating. |
| Police said Sunday that they were confident that the man they fatally shot near a train station was the assailant in both attacks and that they had identified him using CCTV footage. Police were staking out a location associated with the suspect when a man approached and began shooting, prompting officers to return fire, a police official said. | Police said Sunday that they were confident that the man they fatally shot near a train station was the assailant in both attacks and that they had identified him using CCTV footage. Police were staking out a location associated with the suspect when a man approached and began shooting, prompting officers to return fire, a police official said. |
| “The culprit that was shot by the police task force at Norreport station is the person behind both of these assassinations,” Torben Molgaard Jensen, the chief police inspector, told reporters. | “The culprit that was shot by the police task force at Norreport station is the person behind both of these assassinations,” Torben Molgaard Jensen, the chief police inspector, told reporters. |
| Copenhagen police spokesman Steen Hansen said the suspect’s name is known but will not be revealed at this stage. | Copenhagen police spokesman Steen Hansen said the suspect’s name is known but will not be revealed at this stage. |
| “There’s an ongoing investigation, so it’s important for the police to keep his identity to themselves,” Hansen said. He also said a weapon was found, but it was not confirmed whether it was connected to the shootings. | “There’s an ongoing investigation, so it’s important for the police to keep his identity to themselves,” Hansen said. He also said a weapon was found, but it was not confirmed whether it was connected to the shootings. |
| Survivors of the two attacks said they appeared to have been an attempt to mimic the Paris terrorist strikes, when the staff of a satirical newspaper was massacred and four hostages were fatally shot at a kosher supermarket. | Survivors of the two attacks said they appeared to have been an attempt to mimic the Paris terrorist strikes, when the staff of a satirical newspaper was massacred and four hostages were fatally shot at a kosher supermarket. |
| The French ambassador to Denmark and a cartoonist — previously targeted for depicting the prophet Muhammad — were among those taking part in the debate at the cafe. | The French ambassador to Denmark and a cartoonist — previously targeted for depicting the prophet Muhammad — were among those taking part in the debate at the cafe. |
| “We feel certain now that it was a politically motivated attack, and thereby it was a terrorist attack,” Thorning-Schmidt said in an appearance near the scene of the cafe shooting. The prime minister put the country on high alert, with warnings of a possible follow-up attack. | “We feel certain now that it was a politically motivated attack, and thereby it was a terrorist attack,” Thorning-Schmidt said in an appearance near the scene of the cafe shooting. The prime minister put the country on high alert, with warnings of a possible follow-up attack. |
| Jewish community leaders said that a bat mitzvah service was underway near the synagogue at the time of the attack there and that the man who was killed was a volunteer guard. Police protection had been stepped up at sensitive sites across the city, including synagogues, after the attack on the cafe. | Jewish community leaders said that a bat mitzvah service was underway near the synagogue at the time of the attack there and that the man who was killed was a volunteer guard. Police protection had been stepped up at sensitive sites across the city, including synagogues, after the attack on the cafe. |
| Netanyahu condemned the attacks and called for European Jews to immigrate to Israel. | Netanyahu condemned the attacks and called for European Jews to immigrate to Israel. |
| “The wave of attacks against Jews in Europe is expected to continue, and it is up to us to stay prepared,” he said, according to the Jerusalem Post. “Jews need protection wherever they are, but we’re telling you: Israel is your home.” | “The wave of attacks against Jews in Europe is expected to continue, and it is up to us to stay prepared,” he said, according to the Jerusalem Post. “Jews need protection wherever they are, but we’re telling you: Israel is your home.” |
| But Thorning-Schmidt, who placed a bouquet of flowers outside the synagogue, said of the Jewish community: “They belong in Denmark, they are a strong part of our community and we will do everything we can to protect the Jewish community in our country.” | But Thorning-Schmidt, who placed a bouquet of flowers outside the synagogue, said of the Jewish community: “They belong in Denmark, they are a strong part of our community and we will do everything we can to protect the Jewish community in our country.” |
| Among the countries occupied by the Germans in World War II, Denmark stood out for its determination to save its Jewish residents from deportation to the camps. | Among the countries occupied by the Germans in World War II, Denmark stood out for its determination to save its Jewish residents from deportation to the camps. |
| Not long after the shootings in Denmark, a carnival planned in the northern German city of Braunschweig was canceled over a terror threat, police said. | Not long after the shootings in Denmark, a carnival planned in the northern German city of Braunschweig was canceled over a terror threat, police said. |
| The police said in a statement that there was a “concrete threat of an Islamist attack” and that they had received a tip from “reliable state security sources.” The carnival is said to attract up to 250,000 revellers, and it was canceled less than two hours before it was about to start. The police said the threat was unconnected to the shootings in Denmark. | The police said in a statement that there was a “concrete threat of an Islamist attack” and that they had received a tip from “reliable state security sources.” The carnival is said to attract up to 250,000 revellers, and it was canceled less than two hours before it was about to start. The police said the threat was unconnected to the shootings in Denmark. |
| The target of Saturday’s earlier attack was a north Copenhagen cafe, the Krudttonden, that is well known for its jazz performances. On Saturday afternoon, it was hosting a community discussion titled “Art, Blasphemy and the Freedom of Expression.” | The target of Saturday’s earlier attack was a north Copenhagen cafe, the Krudttonden, that is well known for its jazz performances. On Saturday afternoon, it was hosting a community discussion titled “Art, Blasphemy and the Freedom of Expression.” |
| Among the organizers was Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks, who has received death threats over his depiction of the prophet Muhammad with the body of a dog in 2007. An al-Qaeda faction placed a bounty on his head, and an American woman calling herself Jihad Jane was sentenced in 2014 to 10 years in prison for plotting to kill Vilks. | Among the organizers was Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks, who has received death threats over his depiction of the prophet Muhammad with the body of a dog in 2007. An al-Qaeda faction placed a bounty on his head, and an American woman calling herself Jihad Jane was sentenced in 2014 to 10 years in prison for plotting to kill Vilks. |
| In recent years, Vilks, 68, has had constant police protection. Vilks had security guards with him at the cafe Saturday and was unharmed in the attack, which left dozens of jagged holes in the cafe’s plate-glass windows. | In recent years, Vilks, 68, has had constant police protection. Vilks had security guards with him at the cafe Saturday and was unharmed in the attack, which left dozens of jagged holes in the cafe’s plate-glass windows. |
| Saturday’s event was timed to mark the anniversary of a religious edict against the author Salman Rushdie, who was threatened with death by Islamist extremists and lived in hiding for years after the publication of his novel “The Satanic Verses.” | Saturday’s event was timed to mark the anniversary of a religious edict against the author Salman Rushdie, who was threatened with death by Islamist extremists and lived in hiding for years after the publication of his novel “The Satanic Verses.” |
| Adam reported from London. Stephanie Kirchner in Berlin contributed to this report. | Adam reported from London. Stephanie Kirchner in Berlin contributed to this report. |