2015 Copenhagen shootings
On 14–15 February 2015, three separate shootings occurred in Copenhagen, Denmark. In total, two victims and the perpetrator were killed, while five police officers were wounded.
| 2015 Copenhagen shootings | |
|---|---|
| Part of Islamic terrorism in Europe | |
Krudttønden Nørrebro station Great Synagogue 2015 Copenhagen shootings (Copenhagen) | |
| Location |
|
| Date | 14–15 February 2015 15:00–4:50 (UTC+1) |
Attack type | Mass shooting, spree shooting, terrorism |
| Weapons |
|
| Deaths | 3 (including the perpetrator) |
| Injured | 5 |
| Perpetrator | Omar Abdel Hamid El-Hussein |
| Motive | Islamic extremism |
The first shooting took place on 14 February at a small public afternoon event called "Art, Blasphemy and Freedom of Expression" at the Krudttønden cultural centre, where an armed gunman killed one civilian who tried to stop him and wounded three police officers. 30 to 40 people attended the event, amongst whom were the Swedish artist Lars Vilks, who was among the key speakers, and François Zimeray, Ambassador of France in Denmark, who opened the seminar with his speech just before the attack took place. Vilks is often described as the main target because of his drawings of Muhammad.
The second shooting took place later that night (after midnight, and, therefore, on the 15th), outside the city's Great Synagogue in Krystalgade. A gunman killed a Jewish man on security duty during a bat mitzvah celebration, and wounded two police officers. Later that morning near Nørrebro station, police tracking the suspect shot and killed the man, after he opened fire on them while he attempted to enter a residential building under police surveillance. The perpetrator was identified as Omar Abdel Hamid El-Hussein.