News
COPENHAGEN-ALLEGED GUNMAN KILLED BY POLICE
SHOOTING REGARDED AS ATTEMPT ON VILKS
Alleged gunman (Source: Local Police Footage)
USPA NEWS -
At least one person is dead and others wounded following a shooting at a freedom of speech meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark. According to reports, police on the scene regard this attack as an assassination attempt on artist Lars Vilks.
Danish Police said a man they shot and killed Sunday was likely behind shootings at a free speech event and a synagogue in Copenhagen that stirred fears that another spree of terror attacks was underway.
The gunman was killed in a gun-fight with police in the Noerrebro district of the Danish capital after two people were shot dead and five police officers injured in the attacks over the weekend.
Investigator Joergen Skov says the preliminary investigations said nothing suggested that there were other gunmen involved in the shootings.
The gunman was killed in a gun-fight with police in the Noerrebro district of the Danish capital after two people were shot dead and five police officers injured in the attacks over the weekend.
Investigator Joergen Skov says the preliminary investigations said nothing suggested that there were other gunmen involved in the shootings.
Police said in the first attack Saturday the gunman, who fled in a stolen car, killed a 55-year-old man and injured three police officers at the Krudttoenden cafe, which was hosting an "Art, blasphemy and the freedom of expression" event.
Police said the apparent target of the shooting was Lars Vilks, 68, who has endured several attempted attacks and death threats since he depicted the founder of Islam as a dog in 2007.
Vilks escaped unharmed after a bodyguard shoved him into the cafe kitchen when the gunfire erupted around 4 p.m.
"What other motive could there be? It's possible it was inspired by Charlie Hebdo," he said, referring to the Jan. 7 attack by Islamic extremists on the French newspaper.
Police said the apparent target of the shooting was Lars Vilks, 68, who has endured several attempted attacks and death threats since he depicted the founder of Islam as a dog in 2007.
Vilks escaped unharmed after a bodyguard shoved him into the cafe kitchen when the gunfire erupted around 4 p.m.
"What other motive could there be? It's possible it was inspired by Charlie Hebdo," he said, referring to the Jan. 7 attack by Islamic extremists on the French newspaper.
Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt called the shooting "a cynical act of violence" and an "act of terrorism."
Copenhagen police released surveillance photos of a man of interest taken near the site where the gunman at a Copenhagen cafe abandoned his stolen car Feb. 14, 2015.
Police reported the second shooting in downtown Copenhagen after midnight Sunday. Police spokesman Allan Wadsworth-Hansen said the gunman opened fire at two police officers outside the synagogue. A Jewish man was killed and the two officers were wounded in the arms and legs but were not in life-threatening condition. The gunman fled on foot.
Copenhagen police released surveillance photos of a man of interest taken near the site where the gunman at a Copenhagen cafe abandoned his stolen car Feb. 14, 2015.
Police reported the second shooting in downtown Copenhagen after midnight Sunday. Police spokesman Allan Wadsworth-Hansen said the gunman opened fire at two police officers outside the synagogue. A Jewish man was killed and the two officers were wounded in the arms and legs but were not in life-threatening condition. The gunman fled on foot.
Leaders across Europe condemned the violence and expressed support for Denmark, while U.S. National Security Council spokeswoman Bernadette Meehan said U.S. officials were ready to help with the investigation and have been in touch with their Danish counterparts.
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