Man shot dead by police following Denmark terror attacks that killed two
A MAN believed to be responsible for shooting dead two civilians in Copenhagen – just hours apart – has been gunned down by police.
Police hailed the man as he approached before he opened fire and was shot.
Investigator Joergen Skov said no one else was involved in the two attacks in which one man was shot in the head near a synagogue and another killed at a freedom-of-speech event.
Tragic Dan Uzan, 37, was guarding a building behind the synagogue during a bar mitzvah.
Denmark's chief rabbi Jair Melchior said Mr Uzan was an "irreplaceable" security guard protecting the city's Jewish community.
"He was a person who was always willing to help. An amazing, amazing guy," he said.
The second deadly attack happened in the Krystalgade area of the city with two police officers also shot in the arm and the leg.
A major manhunt was already underway for the gunman who had opened fire at an event at a Krudttonden cafe – leaving a 55-year-old dead and three police officers injured.
The meeting in the Danish capital was being attended by Swedish artist Lars Vilks – who sparked outrage in 2007 with drawings depicting Prophet Muhammad as a dog.
Mr Vilks and French ambassador Francois Zimeray – who was also at the event – were both unharmed.
The three police officers were also "out of danger".
"We feel certain now that it's a politically motivated attack and thereby it is a terrorist attack", Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt said.
"We take this situation extremely seriously. We are in a high alarm all over the country and our main priority at this stage is to catch the perpetrators and make sure that we find them as soon as possible."
Prime Minister David Cameron condemned the shootings in Copenhagen and said: "Free speech must always be protected".
Danish police – who initially said they were hunting two suspects – issued a picture of the main suspect taken on street cameras close to where a getaway car was dumped.
Following the shooting Mr Zimeray tweeted from his @FranceDK account "Still alive in the room".
The cafe in northern Copenhagen was hosting an Art, Blasphemy and the Freedom of Expression event when the shots were fired.
Last month the satirical French magazine Charlie Hebdo was targeted by Islamic gunmen.
Jodie Ginsberg, chief executive of Index on Censorship joined those in condemning the attacks.
"It would be terrible if violent acts such as that in Copenhagen shut down free speech even further," she said.
"The ability to express ourselves freely, to attend meetings and debates without fear of violence is fundamental to a free society. Free speech must be protected."
Londoner Sebastian Zepeda – who was in a Krystalgade hotel during lockdown – said he was terrified to leave his room after hearing the first shooting.
"I was on my bed and I heard gunshots – and my heart raced," said the 19-year-old.
"All of a sudden the road was packed with police."
A MAN believed to be responsible for shooting dead two civilians in Copenhagen – just hours apart – has been gunned down by police.
Police hailed the man as he approached before he opened fire and was shot.
Investigator Joergen Skov said no one else was involved in the two attacks in which one man was shot in the head near a synagogue and another killed at a freedom-of-speech event.
Tragic Dan Uzan, 37, was guarding a building behind the synagogue during a bar mitzvah.
Denmark's chief rabbi Jair Melchior said Mr Uzan was an "irreplaceable" security guard protecting the city's Jewish community.
"He was a person who was always willing to help. An amazing, amazing guy," he said.
The second deadly attack happened in the Krystalgade area of the city with two police officers also shot in the arm and the leg.
A major manhunt was already underway for the gunman who had opened fire at an event at a Krudttonden cafe – leaving a 55-year-old dead and three police officers injured.
The meeting in the Danish capital was being attended by Swedish artist Lars Vilks – who sparked outrage in 2007 with drawings depicting Prophet Muhammad as a dog.
Mr Vilks and French ambassador Francois Zimeray – who was also at the event – were both unharmed.
The three police officers were also "out of danger".
"We feel certain now that it's a politically motivated attack and thereby it is a terrorist attack", Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt said.
"We take this situation extremely seriously. We are in a high alarm all over the country and our main priority at this stage is to catch the perpetrators and make sure that we find them as soon as possible."
Prime Minister David Cameron condemned the shootings in Copenhagen and said: "Free speech must always be protected".
Danish police – who initially said they were hunting two suspects – issued a picture of the main suspect taken on street cameras close to where a getaway car was dumped.
Following the shooting Mr Zimeray tweeted from his @FranceDK account "Still alive in the room".
The cafe in northern Copenhagen was hosting an Art, Blasphemy and the Freedom of Expression event when the shots were fired.
Last month the satirical French magazine Charlie Hebdo was targeted by Islamic gunmen.
Jodie Ginsberg, chief executive of Index on Censorship joined those in condemning the attacks.
"It would be terrible if violent acts such as that in Copenhagen shut down free speech even further," she said.
"The ability to express ourselves freely, to attend meetings and debates without fear of violence is fundamental to a free society. Free speech must be protected."
Londoner Sebastian Zepeda – who was in a Krystalgade hotel during lockdown – said he was terrified to leave his room after hearing the first shooting.
"I was on my bed and I heard gunshots – and my heart raced," said the 19-year-old.
"All of a sudden the road was packed with police."
Man shot dead by police following Denmark terror attacks that killed two
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