Two Swedes killed in gang-linked Copenhagen shooting identified

The victims of a fatal double shooting in Herlev near Copenhagen on Tuesday have been identified.

Published: 27 June 2019 17:02 CEST

Two Swedes killed in gang-linked Copenhagen shooting identified

Copenhagen West Police brief press on Thursday. Photo: Nils Meilvang / Ritzau Scanpix

Two Swedish men aged 21 and 23 years were killed in the incident, Copenhagen West Police confirmed on Thursday.

The men were shot at least ten times and several weapons were used, probably including both pistols and automatic weapons.

The crime took place on the Sennepshaven road in Herlev, around 12 kilometres northwest of central Copenhagen. The shooters fled the scene in a silver-grey Audi S4, which was later found at Nærum, an area further north.

Attempts had been made to set fire to the getaway vehicle.

Police said on Thursday they did not wish to reveal further information as to the identity of the two victims, citing the need to protect the ongoing investigation.

Swedish daily Expressen has previously reported that the 23-year-old was a leading member of a gang known as ‘Snottaz’ from the Rinkeby neighbourhood in Stockholm. The other man was from Tensta, also near the Swedish capital, according to the newspaper.

Danish police are working together with colleagues in Sweden on the investigation.

“We need to remain cautious about releasing information on this case out of consideration for the ongoing investigation, which is wide-ranging and involves a number of Danish police districts and Swedish police,” superintendent Flemming Madsen of Copenhagen West Police said.

Member comments

Become a Member to leave a comment.

The 39-year-old Polish man is suspected of punching Frederiksen on June 7th as she walked in central Copenhagen, leaving her with a minor whiplash injury.

“The court has decided that the suspect will remain in custody until July 4th,” a court official told AFP, following a hearing that lasted less than an hour.

The man, who was arrested immediately after the incident, has denied responsibility and says he has no recollection of what happened.

Frederiksen, 46, underwent a medical examination afterwards and was diagnosed with a “contusion on her right shoulder and a minor whiplash injury”, according to her office.

A medical certificate was presented to the court on Thursday.

Frederiksen and several witnesses have been questioned in the ongoing investigation, police said.

In police questioning, relayed to the court on Thursday, Frederiksen said the man approached her and uttered something incomprehensible, then hit her on the shoulder with a closed fist, Danish news agency Ritzau reported on Thursday.

According to prosecutor Line Steffensen, the man was drunk and had stolen alcohol from a grocery store just prior to his encounter with the prime minister.

Steffensen said the man had been arrested on several occasions for shoplifting since moving to Denmark five years ago.

Frederiksen became Denmark’s youngest ever prime minister when she was elected in 2019, aged 41. She won re-election in 2022.

She said after the attack that she was “shaken” and did not take part in the final day of campaigning for the EU election.