Three people have been confirmed dead, and three are critically injured after a shooting incident in a Field’s shopping center in Copenhagen on Sunday, chief police inspector Søren Thomassen stated on Monday.
The three killed include a man in his 40s and two “young people,” Thomassen said on Monday. In a press release, the Copenhagen police added the young people were a young man and a young woman.
Police worked hard on Sunday to identify them and notify their relatives. Several people are injured.
Acted alone
A 22-year-old Dane has been arrested. Police say they know little about his motive but think he acted alone.
“We have not been able to prove that he worked with anyone else,” Thomassen said.
The arrested man will be questioned on Monday. The man was apprehended with a rifle and ammunition, but police say there may be additional weapons.
Panic
The police were notified of the shooting at 5:35 PM on Sunday. The man was arrested 13 minutes later.
Field’s is among Denmark’s largest shopping centers, with over 135 shops and restaurants spread over around 74,000 square meters.
Photos and videos show panicked people running out of the mall. Several eyewitnesses said that at first, they did not understand what was happening, but that it quickly dawned on them that the situation was very serious.
“After one bang, there was a huge crowd. Everyone started running; it was completely insane. But one still thought: were there really shots? But then, suddenly, there were two or three more shots, and then wild panic broke out,” eyewitness Lisbeth Gøtzsche told the newspaper Berlingske.
People who witnessed the shooting episode have been offered emergency psychological help.
YouTube videos
Four YouTube videos are part of the investigation of the shooting episode, the police informed the newspaper Jyllands-Posten.
In the videos, a young man posed with a rifle and a gun. They were uploaded with the lyrics “I do not care” and “Quetiapine does not work.” Quetiapine, which is the Norwegian name for the drug, is used in the treatment of mental disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and mania.
Several sources have informed Danmarks Radio that the man who was arrested on Sunday was the person who posted the videos. The videos were uploaded on July 1, according to Jyllands-Posten. They were removed Sunday night.
Frederiksen: A cruel attack
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen calls the incident a cruel attack.
“Denmark was hit by a cruel attack on Sunday night. Several people were killed, and even more people were wounded. Innocent families who were out shopping or eating. Children, young people, and adults,” Frederiksen stated.
“I encourage Danes to stand together and support each other in this difficult time,” she added.
No Norwegian citizens have contacted the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in connection with the shooting, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed NTB on Monday.
Trine Viste from Bergen and her family were on their way out of the shopping center when the shooting took place. Viste told the newspaper Bergensavisen that she and her family were on their way to the car.
“At first, it sounded like a big window shattered, but when we heard screams and another shot, we started running,” she said.
Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews
Do you have a news tip for Norway Today? We want to hear it. Get in touch at [email protected]
Be the first to comment on "Three people killed and three critically injured in a shooting at a shopping center in Copenhagen"