KEY POINTS
- Two killed and five injured in two separate shootings
- First attack was at a free speech event at a cafe and second was at the city's largest synagogue
- Police shot and killed the suspected gunman, identified as a 22-year-old man born and raised in Denmark
- Two additional men charged in connection with shootings
- Danish PM classified shootings as 'terror' and international leaders condemned attack.
- Around 30,000 people turn out for a rally in Copenhagen to commemorate the shooting victims on Monday evening, according to police.
- Speaking at a memorial service for the victims, Danish PM expressed solidarity with Denmark's Jewish community as well as those of other religions
• Timeline of Copenhagen attacks: Terror into the night
Update, 9:22pm
That concludes our live coverage for today. Be sure to check The Local Denmark tomorrow for more updates and reaction.
Update, 9:17pm
Johan Harbou just tweeted this poster which uses work by the British graffiti artist Stik.
"Refugees and Muslims are welcome" #cphshooting #WeAreCph #ThereIsHope #vimindes #Denmark #Copenhagen pic.twitter.com/yTG8yTqw1R
— Johan Harbou Boisen (@Johanboisen) February 16, 2015
Update, 9:10pm
This just in from AFP:
The turnout at the gathering Monday evening, happening in chilly darkness, was large by Danish standards.
"There are about 30,000 at the venue, as many as we expected," a police spokesman told AFP about the gathering.
Update, 9:08pm
"Scandinavian solidarity shows itself. Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven dries tears from his eyes as Koppel and Koppel perform," tweeted union activist Anders Friis-Hansen.
Den skandinaviske solidaritet viser sig. Stefan Lovren tørrer tårer fra øjenkrogen til Koppel og Koppel #vimindes #cphshooting
— Anders Friis-Hansen (@afriishansen) February 16, 2015
Update, 9:06pm
The crowds in Copenhagen seem to be getting larger by the minute as this photo shows.
Østerbro kl. 20.18 #cphshooting @modkraft pic.twitter.com/tlrprpiXMZ
— Christian Sophus (@ChristianSophus) February 16, 2015
Update, 9:03pm
Earlier in the day, the president of the European Parliament Martin Schulz said that the Copenhagen shootings struck “at core of what makes us European: diversity, tolerance and freedom”. Many of those values feel reflected in tonight’s rally.
"Attack strikes at core of what makes us European: diversity, tolerance and freedom," @EP_President on #cphshooting http://t.co/0LHJ3RS908
— European Parliament (@Europarl_EN) February 16, 2015
Update, 8:59pm
The crowd is now being given a rendition of Bridge over Troubled Waters, sung by Marie Carmen Koppel and Benjamin Koppel.
Update, 8:54pm
Many other European countries are reflecting on anti-Semitism in the wake of the Copenhagen shootings. While the memorial has been going on, British newspaper The Guardian has posted this article with the first line: “It can happen here, nobody can be sure that it won’t”.
Earlier in the day, The Local Sweden spoke to Jews and Muslims in Stockholm about their fears.
Update, 8:52pm
The head of the Danish police federation is now talking. "I want to thank the whole of Denmark for the fantastic support the police have been given."
Update, 8:48pm
Danish tweeter Pia Vigh has really captured the crowds in this photo and is using a new hashtag #cphlove. Wonder if it will start trending?
Copenhagen this evening. No more #cphshooting. Now #cphlove pic.twitter.com/2dKmnkdTCo
— Pia Vigh (@PiaVigh) February 16, 2015
Update, 8:37pm
The French ambassador to Denmark François Zimeray – who was at the café where the shooting took place – is now addressing the crowd.
"Dear friends, there are moments in your life that are turning points. There is a before and after. This is true for an individual as it is for a nation. This is one of those nights.
"I would like to express gratitude to the Danish policemen. Without their courage I would not be here."
He added: “Human rights are not only the cause of states or institutions. They depend all over the world on activists. It is our duty to protect them.”
He described the Copenhagen attacks as a “mirror” of the shootings in Paris in January when 17 people died. “France and Denmark share the same tragedy. But they are like a mirror. Both tragedies reflect each other in perfect symmetry.”
Update, 8:31pm
Sweden’s Home Affairs Minister is among the foreign politicians attending tonight’s memorial service. He posted a photo of himself laying flowers a few hours ago.
Lägger blommor i det mäktiga blomsterhavet vid Köpenhamns synagoga. Vi ger aldrig vika för våldet pic.twitter.com/3m9iPNLMv2
— Anders Ygeman (@Ygeman) February 16, 2015
Update, 8:23pm
Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt: "An attack on Denmark's Jews is an attack on Denmark, on all of us.
"We stand shoulder to shoulder, Jews, Muslims, Christians. We stand together as Danes."
She added: "We stand shoulder to shoulder, Jews, Muslims, Christians. We stand together as Danes."
She also delivered a message in English to those who had travelled to Copenhagen specially for the memorial: "We are so very grateful for all the support that we have felt. Thank you all, and thank you for all those of you who have travelled from abroad tonight to join us in this moment of commemoration."
The Local Denmark's Editor Justin Cremer is at the scene:
"Continue with everyday life, continue to say what you want." Thorning-Schmidt from #cphshooting memorial.
— Justin Cremer (@justinCPH) February 16, 2015
Update, 8:22pm
British Daily Mirror writer Tom Parry is among those who have urged tourists not to boycott Scandinavia after the Copenhagen shootings.
As with Paris after #CharlieHebdo no one should be put off wonderful #Denmark by #CopenhagenShooting #Copenhagen: beautiful historic city
— Tom Parry (@ParryTom) February 16, 2015
Freelance journalist Sean Coogan is also tweeting from outside the cafe where the memorial is taking place. He describes the atmosphere as "moving".
Moving scenes in #Copenhagen with John Lennon's Imagine bellowing across square near first #cphshooting whilst crowd watches in silence
— Sean Coogan (@Cooganhagen) February 16, 2015
Update, 8:20pm
Copenhagen mayor Frank Jensen has just addressed the crowds followed by a minute's silence. Prime Minister Helle Thorning Schmidt is now speaking.
Update, 8:18pm
Danish singer Pernille is singing John Lennon's 'Imagine' for the crowds in Copenhagen:
Pernille singing 'Imagine' of John Lennon at commemoration for #cphshooting pic.twitter.com/vPCvJl7OAQ
— Ambassadør Eddy (@eddymiddeldorp) February 16, 2015
Update, 8:11pm
I'm not the only one running late. Huge crowd streaming to #cphshooting memorial. http://t.co/Iilrv0j8Vw
— Justin Cremer (@justinCPH) February 16, 2015
Update, 8:08pm
Jonas Heide Smith, who works at the Danish National Gallery took this emotive snap from among the crowds gathered at the rally in the Østerbro area of Copenhagen, close to Krudttønden Café, where the first shootings took place.
Copenhagen lights #cphshooting pic.twitter.com/sndO18BPaV
— Jonas Heide Smith (@jonassmith) February 16, 2015
Update, 8:06pm
Freelance British journalist Alex Forrest has snapped this photo of people gathering for the main memorial service.
Crowds gather in Østerbro for the public memorial of the #cphshooting. Speakers due to include Danish PM. pic.twitter.com/t2vW6wDYlE
— Alex Forrest (@_alexforrest) February 16, 2015
Update, 8:03pm
Maddy Savage, Editor of The Local Sweden:
According to social media site trendsmap, the hashtags #cphshooting, #copenhagen and #dkpol have been trending all day in Denmark. #judar (Jews) and #antisemiska (anti-semitism) have been trending in Sweden, reflecting fears that violence could spread into the more northerly Nordic nation.
Update, 7:57pm
“May the past day bring out the best in us. Not the worst”. TV presenter Ulla Essendrop sums up the feelings of many Danes.
Må det seneste døgn bringe det bedste frem i os. Ikke det værste. #cphshooting
— Ulla Essendrop (@Essendrop) February 15, 2015
Update, 7:53pm
The Local Denmark's Editor Justin Cremer @justinCPH is on his way to the largest of the memorial services, next to the Copenhagen cafe where the first shooting happened. He'll be tweeting live from the scene.
Headed to #cphshooting memorial. Keep an eye on @TheLocalDenmark live blog for updates from there and elsewhere http://t.co/3Os2nd6snB
— Justin Cremer (@justinCPH) February 16, 2015
Update, 7:46pm
The attacks might have claimed mercifully few lives compared with last month’s atrocities in Paris, but people across Denmark have been shocked by what they saw. People are gathering in small and large towns across the country to show their solidarity.
A local politician in Aarhus, Denmark’s second city, posted this tweet from a memorial ceremony in the city. “Big turnout and sense of community,” she says.
Mindehøjtidelighed i Aarhus. Flot markering og følelsen af fællesskab #cphshooting pic.twitter.com/kOeZktZyGM
— Lene Horsbøl (@LeneHorsboel) February 16, 2015
And this was the scene at 7:30pm in Odense, from the camera of local high school student Søren Thomsen:
30 min før start, vi er allerede mange i Odense #cphshooting #dkpol #odensepol pic.twitter.com/BT4YnuFp1Z
— Søren Thomsen (@SrenThomsen1996) February 16, 2015
And this comes from Claire Holt in Svendborg in central Denmark:
At the memorial for the two terror victims in my little hometown. Atleast 500 people are here. ❤️ #cphshooting pic.twitter.com/yUA1zz0K0B
— claire holt (@Smoldersmoment) February 16, 2015
Update, 7:41pm
According to the Facebook event, around 21 thousand people are expected to show up in Copenhagen's Østerbro area to remember the two terror attack victims tonight.
Update, 7:33pm
This just in from AFP:
The Nazi-hunting Simon Wiesenthal Centre on Monday said it feared the recent attacks against Jews in Copenhagen and Paris could be the start of a "pan-European epidemic" as it called for a Europe-wide conference against anti-Semitism.
The prominent Jewish rights group said the shootings in Copenhagen on Saturday followed the same pattern as the Islamist attacks in Paris last month, and were directed at "freedom of expression activists, police and Jewish institutions".
"Paris and Copenhagen are bound to be precedents for a pan-European epidemic. Condemnation is insufficient," the group said in the statement, addressed to European Council President Donald Tusk.
It called on Tusk to organize a conference to "combat anti-Semitism on every front".
The weekend attacks saw a gunman kill a 37-year-old Jewish man outside a synagogue as well as a 55-year-old film-maker attending a debate on Islam and freedom of the press at a cultural centre. The gunman was later shot dead by police.
The attacks came just over a month after the January 7th-9th shootings in Paris that left 17 people dead, including a policewoman and four Jews at a kosher supermarket.
Update, 6.01pm
Lars Vilks, the controversial Swedish cartoonist believed to have been targeted in the first of the two Copenhagen shootings has gone into hiding indefinitely, a police spokeswoman said on Monday.
Update, Monday 5.42pm
Denmark's Ambassador to Sweden has told The Local Sweden that it is "futile" to worry about future terror attacks in Scandinavia, but confirmed that she feels there is a "specific threat" against Jews in Denmark.
Update, Monday 5.31pm
A group of young men wearing hoods to partially cover their faces has removed flowers that were laid at the Copenhagen spot where the presumed gunman was killed by police.
One of the men told reporters that they removed the flowers because it is not a Muslim tradition to lay flowers for dead people.
Update, Monday 5.07pm
As debates rage around Europe about growing anti-Semitism in the wake of the Copenhagen synagogue shooting, a Jewish man who wore a kippah for a day in Paris has released a video showing how he was cursed at, spat on, and followed, as reported by The Local France.
Flowers laid where Omar El-Hussein was killed have created controversy. Photo: Thomas Lekfeldt/Scanpix
Update, Monday 3.42pm
Dozens of bouquets of flowers were left Monday at the site in Copenhagen where the suspected gunman behind two fatal shootings at the weekend was killed by police.
PM Helle Thorning-Schmidt's short press briefing concludes.
PM use short presser to say that Denmark stands strong after attack, values its Jewish community and appreciates intl support #cphshooting
— Justin Cremer (@justinCPH) February 16, 2015
Update, Monday 2.58pm
Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt advised Danish Jews not to emigrate Monday despite a call from her Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu for European Jews to move to Israel.
Contrary to claims of the Jewish community Danish PM says: "protection of the Jewish community was increased after the Paris attacks."
— Anshel Pfeffer (@AnshelPfeffer) February 16, 2015
"The Danish democracy is strong. The Danish nation is strong." #cphshooting pic.twitter.com/3QMUDpaspx
— Justin Cremer (@justinCPH) February 16, 2015
Update, Monday, 2.34pm
Danish Jews have turned down an offer by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to emigrate to Israel. "We're very grateful for Netanyahu's concern but having said that, we are Danish — we're Danish Jews but we're Danish — and it won't be terror that makes us go to Israel," a spokesman for the Jewish Community in Denmark Jeppe Juhl told the AFP news agency.
Update, Monday 2.25pm
Police also confirmed at the briefing that two people have been held on remand in connection with the deadly attacks. They are suspected of aiding the gunman.
Update, Monday 2.21pm
Fresh pictures of the attacker have emerged. Police are asking witnesses to come forward with any information that might aid the investigation.
Update, Monday 2.14pm
While Danish police spoke to journalists in Copenhagen, The Local Sweden took to the streets of Stockholm to see if people felt more concerned about terrorism following the weekend's attacks over the border.
Update, Monday 2.12pm
Copenhagen police say they will only reveal the perpetrator's identity when they are ready to do so. The short briefing is now over.
Update, Monday 2.10pm
Police say they have released pictures of the perpetrator and are looking for witnesses to come forward. Mainly interested in learning if he was alone. Police also explained why they raided an internet cafe in Nørrebro: they believe the perpetrator was there at some point before the attacks.
Update, Monday 2.04pm
Police briefing: All five police officers injured in the attacks are recovering well.
Update, Monday 1.04pm
Due to massive interest, tonight's memorial in Copenhagen has been relocated to Gunnar Nu Hansens Plads, adjacent to Fælledparken and just a short distance from Krudttønden, the scene of the first shooting. Some 16,000 people have registered for the event, which begins at 8pm. Memorial services have also been scheduled for Aalborg, Aarhus, Hørsholm, Esbjerg and Odense.
Copenhagen Police have scheduled a press briefing for 2pm, while Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt has invited the foreign press to a 2.30pm press conference.
Update, Monday 12.20pm
The two men who were arrested earlier today have now been charged with helping the attacker get rid of his weapon and giving him somewhere to hide. More here.
Update, Monday 11.20am
Tributes to the film director and Jewish man killed in Copenhagen are being left at Danish embassies around the world. The Local Sweden's reporter Emma Löfgren is currently gathering reaction in Stockholm.
Messages of love and support left at Danish Embassy in Stockholm in tribute to shooting victims. #cphshooting pic.twitter.com/F6FclS7Xij
— Emma Lofgren (@ekjlofgren) February 16, 2015
Flowers left outside Danish Embassy in Stockholm as world remembers shooting victims. #cphshooting pic.twitter.com/eqk5ymkMAk
— Emma Lofgren (@ekjlofgren) February 16, 2015
Update, Monday 10.10am
Police in Sweden say they have beefed up security in response to Copenhagen attacks. A spokesperson for Sweden's Home Affairs Minister Anders Ygeman has confirmed to The Local that he is travelling to the Danish capital to participate in a memorial at the cafe where the first shooting took place on Saturday.
Update, Monday 9.12am: Two detained for possibly assisting gunman
Copenhagen police said on Monday morning they had detained two men suspected of aiding the 22-year-old gunman who killed two people over the weekend.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon condemned Sunday the deadly attacks in Copenhagen and called on society to stand up for tolerance and free expression.
Update, 4.37pm:
Copenhagen Police have raided an internet cafe in Nørrebro as part of a vast Copenhagen operation, according to media reports. Two people were arrested but police have not yet said if the arrests are related to the deadly shootings.
Update, 4.00pm: Statement from the Queen
Denmark's Queen Margrethe II has released the following statement:
"It is important that we, in such a serious situation, stand together and uphold the values that Denmark is founded upon.”
Update, 3.13pm: Timeline of events
The past 24 hours have been chaotic. Here is a timeline of events on the two shooting incidents that left two dead and five injured:
Update, 1.36pm: Inspired by Charlie Hebdo attacks
The suspected perpetrator of two fatal shootings in Copenhagen may have been inspired by the Islamist attacks in Paris a month ago, Danish police said Sunday.
“Finn was an original; a incredibly warmhearted and very spiritual type. Tall and handsome. It is hard for me to say more about it know,” the victim’s friend Majken Matzau told Ekstra Bladet.
Update, 12.03pm: Netanyahu urges Danish Jews to move to Israel
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday urged European Jews to move to Israel after a Jewish man was killed in an attack outside Copenhagen's main synagogue.
Police say that the man they shot and killed close to Nørrebro station in Copenhagen shortly after 5am is presumed to be the perpetrator of two fatal attacks. Police said video surveillance indicated the man was behind both killings, one which took place at a panel discussion about Islam and free speech, and the other outside Copenhagen's main synagogue.
Update, 7.16am
Danish police have confirmed that officers shot and killed a man close to Nørrebro station in Copenhagen shortly after 5am. The police are investigating whether the man is behind the shootings at the Lars Vilks conference.
Further shots are reported to have been fired at a synagogue in Copenhagen at around 1am. One man, reported to be a member of the Jewish congregation, was shot dead and two police officers sustained gunshot wounds.
This brings the casualties to three dead and six injured.
The man shot outside the Østerbro cafe/theatre in Krundttønden is confirmed to be 55-years-old and not 40 as previously reported.
Swedish police have tightened surveillance of the border with Denmark at the Öresund bridge during the night.
Update, 11.08pm
Swedish artist Lars Vilks has told the AP that he believes that he was the intended target of Saturday's shooting that left one dead and three injured.
"What other motive could there be?," the artist, who is best known for drawing a picture of the Prophet Muhammad with the head of a dog, told AP. Vilks added that he thought the Copenhagen shooting was likely "inspired by Charlie Hebdo".
A columnist for Charlie Hebdo, the satirical French weekly that was the target of a terror attack in Paris that left 12 dead, has lent his support to Denmark in the aftermath of Saturday's shooting, saying "We are all Danish tonight".
Note to readers, this concludes The Local's updates on the Copenhagen shootings until Sunday morning.
Update, 10.33pm
The 40-year-old Danish man who was killed in Saturday’s attack at a religion and free speech event in Copenhagen was shot from close range outside of the Østerbro cafe/theatre Krundttønden, witnesses say.
Update, 9.32pm
BBC has released chilling audio of the shooting. In the clip, which can be heard here, around 40-50 shots can be heard.
Copenhagen deputy mayor Anna Allerslev wrote on Twitter that a memorial will be held outside of the Østerbro cafe/theatre Krudttønden on Monday at 8pm.
Update, 8.23pm
Copenhagen Police now say that they believe just one gunman was behind the shooting at a Copenhagen cafe that left one dead and three police officers injured.
They released the following photo of the suspect:
Krudttønden: Fotoefterlysning! Hvem er denne mand? Ring 114. RT gerne. Tak. #politidk http://t.co/q4AS9A8eRR pic.twitter.com/I0hspYBwc5
— Københavns Politi (@KobenhavnPoliti) February 14, 2015
Update, 7.48pm: Police release physical description
Police have released a physical description of one of the shooting suspects.
“He had a black black machine gun/machine rifle. Witnesses described it as 90-100cm long, completely black and plastic-looking.”
Update, 7.33: Statement from PM Helle Thorning-Schmidt
Danish PM Helle Thorning-Schmidt released a statement in which she said the following:
“Denmark was today hit by a cold-blooded act of terror. Everything points toward the shooting in Østerbro being a political assassination attempt and thus an act of terror.”
I am horrified and deeply affected by the shooting at Krudttønden. My thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families.
— Frank Jensen (@FrankJensenKBH) February 14, 2015
Update, 7.09pm: PET says shooting was "planned"
At a short press conference, a Copenhagen Police spokesman said that given Swedish artist Lars Vilk's participation, it is "very natural" to assume that Saturday's shooting in Copenhagen was a terror attack and is being investigated as such.
Update, 6.18pm: The civilian killed in Saturday's shooting attack was a 40-year-old Danish citizen, police have said. Police added that they have founded the suspected getaway vehicle but two suspects are still at large.
Update, 6.08pm: Reports of up to 200 shots fired
The French ambassdor to Denmark told AFP from inside the venue that shots rang out in the midst of a debate on Islam and free speech in Copenhagen.
"They fired on us from the outside. It was the same intention as [the January 7 attack on] Charlie Hebdo except they didn't manage to get in," Francois Zimeray said by telephone.
Update, 5.57pm
Police have confirmed that one civilian has died and three police officers are wounded. Police continue to hunting for two suspected gunmen in a dark Volkswagen Polo. The suspects were said to be wearing all black and speaking Danish.
Vilks himself was unhurt in the attack.
Police say they believe Vilks, known for his depictions of the Prophet Muhammad, was the target of the attack. He was attending a debate on the theme of ‘Art, blasphemy and freedom of speech’ at the Krudttønden cultural centre in the Østerbro area of the Danish capital. The attack took place after a speech by the French Ambassador to Denmark.
Delegate Dennis Meyhoff Brink, a satire researcher, told Jyllands Posten that he heard 30 shots over a two minute period. Danish security police then ordered everyone to remain inside. According to reports, the focus of the attack was on the entrance to the building, and the gunman did not enter the main hall.
Bedre foto af skudhullerne i glasdørene til "Krudttønden", hvor tre betjente blev ramt af skud pic.twitter.com/vVGLEchOW7
— Magnus Bjerg (@MagnusBjerg) February 14, 2015
“[Security police] came running through the room brandishing guns, and they took Lars Vilks out a back door.”
According to Brink, the shots were fired just as the French Ambassador, François Zimeray, had finished speaking. Zimeray immediately took to Twitter to confirm that he was still alive:
Still alive in the room
— Frankrigs ambassadør (@francedk) February 14, 2015