Copenhagen mall capturing: suspect is remanded in psychiatric facility for 24 days, police say

Two different Danes and two Swedish nationals had obtained gunshot wounds and have been in hospital in vital however secure situation, whereas a number of others sustained minor accidents whereas leaving the mall, Thomassen mentioned.

The person arrested in reference to the capturing is at the moment the one suspect. Thomassen mentioned there isn’t a indication the suspect was appearing with others however an investigation was ongoing.

Earlier, the police had mentioned they detained the suspect 13 minutes after receiving the primary emergency name, and that he was “carrying a rifle and ammunition” on the time of his arrest.

On the information convention on Monday, Thomassen mentioned there was no indication the assault was an “act of terror” nor motivated by gender, and police imagine the victims have been chosen at random. The suspect was “recognized to individuals within the psychiatric area,” he mentioned.

Mass shootings are uncommon in Denmark

As investigators piece collectively the circumstances that result in Sunday’s lethal capturing, questions are being requested as to how the suspected gunman may have obtained the weapon and ammunition used within the assault, as Denmark is taken into account to have a few of the most restrictive gun legal guidelines in Europe.

Whereas in america gun possession is conditionally assured by the US Structure, in Denmark, the best to non-public gun possession is just not assured by regulation, in response to GunPolicy.org, a corporation that tracks worldwide firearm coverage.

By way of restrictive licensing, Danish authorities try to scale back firearm violence by considerably decreasing the variety of firearms in circulation. An applicant for a firearm license in Denmark should go a background examine which considers felony and psychological well being, GunPolicy.org mentioned.

Solely licensed gun homeowners could lawfully purchase, possess or switch a firearm or ammunition. Candidates for a gun proprietor’s license in Denmark are required to ascertain a real motive to own a firearm, for instance looking, goal capturing, assortment, in response to GunPolicy.org

Danish police on Monday confirmed the suspected shooter didn’t have a allow, in response to Thomassen, the top of Copenhagen’s police power.

‘Run, run, run, they’re nonetheless capturing in there’

Eyewitness Joachim Olsen, a former Danish politician and athlete, informed CNN that he was on his technique to a health club inside Area’s when he noticed giant teams of individuals exiting the mall.

“It seemed like one thing, I am sorry to say, like one thing you’d see from a faculty capturing within the US, individuals popping out with their arms above their heads,” Olsen mentioned.

“You could have individuals operating out, in search of pals and calling family and friends members who have been inside, some talking to pals who have been inside,” he mentioned. “Outdated individuals with their arms across the necks of individuals carrying them out, their ft simply being dragged throughout the ground.”

Outdoors the mall, Olsen spoke to a person who spoke to an off-duty paramedic whose arms “have been coated in blood as much as his elbows.”

“He wished to return in however the police would not let him,” Olsen mentioned.

In accordance with Olsen, safety tried to get the crowds to maneuver away from the mall.

“At one level we have been rushed away. The police got here and mentioned ‘Run, run, run, they’re nonetheless capturing in there.'”

A spokesman for Rigshospitalet, Denmark’s largest hospital, informed CNN that the hospital had taken in a number of victims and had referred to as in additional workers to cope with the emergency.

A telephone line for victims has been opened and police mentioned they’ve arrange a central location the place eyewitnesses can get help and report their experiences to regulation enforcement officers.

“We’ve all been brutally ripped from the brilliant summer season that had simply begun. It’s incomprehensible. Heartbreaking. Meaningless. Our stunning and often so secure capital was modified in a cut up second,” Frederiksen mentioned.

In an announcement, Denmark’s Royal Home mentioned, “Our ideas and deepest sympathy are with the victims, their family and all these affected by the tragedy.”

The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, additionally expressed solidarity with the individuals of Denmark.