Denmark: 3 dead, 4 injured from the attack of a gunman in a shopping center in the capital

LAST UPDATE: 10.34

Three people were shot dead by a gunman who opened fire inside a shopping center in the Danish capital, Copenhagen, yesterday, Sunday.

Two 17-year-old Danes — a man and a woman — and a 47-year-old Russian resident of Denmark are dead, while 4 people, two Danes (19 and 40) and two Swedish citizens (50 and 16) are hospitalized in critical but stable condition .

During a press conference, Copenhagen police chief Zoren Thomassen said the 22-year-old Dane, who was taken into custody shortly after the attack, had chosen his victims “at random” and added that at this stage of the investigation it did not appear to be for a terrorist act or the suspect had accomplices.

According to the police, the alleged perpetrator is suffering from psychiatric problems. A rifle and ammunition were found in his possession when he was arrested, Thomasen said, adding that he has been charged with serial murder and will be arraigned later today.

Police believe the videos circulating on social media since yesterday are authentic and show the attacker posing with weapons and mimicking suicidal gestures or talking about a treatment with a powerful psychiatric prescription drug that “doesn’t work”.

His YouTube and Instagram accounts were shut down overnight, according to AFP.

Several Danish media have confirmed the identity of the suspect who was released online, but his name has not been released.

The attack took place at the Fields shopping centre, located in the Amager district about halfway from the center of the Danish capital to its airport.

The motive of the attacker remains unknown at this stage. According to Mr Thomassen, the 22-year-old was known to the police, but “peripherally”. “He’s not someone we particularly knew,” he said.

When the first shots rang out, about a hundred people ran out of the mall, according to footage from various cameras. Others simply hid inside.

“Suddenly we heard gunshots, about ten, and we ran to hide in the toilets,” explained Isabella, who hid in there for about two hours. “I was afraid, many were crying,” he added.

“They were running for their lives”

A crisis response team has been set up, according to the mayor of Copenhagen, Sophie Hastorp Andersen, while a telephone line for psychological support has been set up.

“My daughters had gone to see Harry Styles. They called to say someone was shooting. They were in a restaurant when it happened,” said Hans Christian Stolz, a 53-year-old Swede who ran frantically to the scene to find his children. “At first we thought some people were running because they had seen Harry Styles, then we realized it was people who were in a panic (…). They were running for (their) lives,” added his daughter, Cassandra.

“My team and I are praying for everyone affected by the Copenhagen mall shooting. I’m shocked,” the British singer said via Snapchat.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, for her part, emphasized that “Denmark was hit by an inhumane attack” yesterday: “People were killed. Even more were injured. Innocent families, who were shopping or had gone out to eat. Children, teenagers and adults.”

“Our beautiful and usually so safe capital has changed in an instant,” Ms Frederiksen added. “I want to encourage Danes to stand by each other, to support each other in this difficult time.”

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and foreign leaders expressed their condolences, as did the organizing committee of the Tour de France.

The most recent attack using firearms in Copenhagen took place on February 14 and 15, 2015, when a jihadist killed two people and wounded five others.

Yesterday’s carnage in Copenhagen came days after an attack in neighboring Norway, when two people were killed by a lone gunman in Oslo.

SOURCE: AMPE