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Today, Monday, the suspect in the shooting incident in the Danish capital, Copenhagen, appears before the court for questioning.
The 22-year-old Danish man killed three people in a shopping mall and wounded others, four of them in critical condition, in one of the country’s largest malls.
Copenhagen’s police chief, Søren Thomassen, said the suspect in the incident had a history of mental illness.
Thomasen added that the victims were targeted indiscriminately, and that there were no indications that the shooting was an act of terrorism.
Police say the victims are a Danish man and woman, both aged 17, and a 47-year-old Russian citizen.
Among the wounded, two Danes and two Swedes were in critical condition, and were receiving treatment, police added.
Police say there is no indication that other attackers are involved and have urged shop owners to keep any surveillance video they may have.
The Danish royal family expressed its “sympathy to the victims, their relatives and all those affected by the tragedy.”
“We do not yet know the full extent of the tragedy, but it is already clear that many more have lost their lives and many more have been injured,” a statement on behalf of Queen Margaret, Crown Prince Frederick and Princess Mary said.
picture released, EPA
Fields is one of the largest multi-storey malls in Denmark, with more than 140 stores and restaurants. It is located on the outskirts of Copenhagen, opposite an underground line that connects to the city centre.
Eyewitnesses spoke of panic among shoppers with the sound of gunshots.
“She didn’t know what was going on. Suddenly there was chaos everywhere,” Emily Jepsen told Jyllands-Posten.
British singer Harry Styles was due to perform at a venue less than a mile from the mall later on Sunday night.
Organizers wrote on Facebook that the event will take place following close coordination with the local police.
Another witness, Mahdi al-Wazzani, told Channel 2 TV that the shooter was carrying a “hunting rifle”.
picture released, Getty Images
The shooting incident in a shopping center in Denmark killed three people and injured regarding 30 people
Shortly following the shooting, the Danish royal family announced the cancellation of a reception scheduled to be hosted by Crown Prince Frederik, to celebrate Denmark’s hosting of the first three stages of the Tour de France.
A number of neighborhood leaders expressed their shock at the shooting incident and offered their condolences to the families of those affected.
Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin condemned what she described as a “horrific act of violence” and the Irishman, Taoisach Michael Martin, offered his “deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the dead and wounded”.
“He offers his condolences to the victims and supports their relatives and relief crews who are currently working to save lives,” Norwegian leader Jonas Gahr Store said.
Denmark applies some of the strictest laws in Europe in the possession of weapons; In Denmark, licenses to own firearms are only granted for hunting or shooting sports, following prior investigation.
Possession of automatic weapons is absolutely prohibited. It is also strictly forbidden to carry a weapon in public.
