Terrorist attacks shake Denmark

A manhunt ended in the early hours of Sunday morning with fatal shots fired by security forces at the suspected attacker. The acts were reminiscent of the attacks on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris and caused consternation in many countries. According to the Danish security authority PET, the acts of terrorism in Paris may have inspired the suspected attacker to carry out his deeds. As in France, he was previously known to the police. Denmark does not want to be intimidated. "There are many questions that the police still have to answer," said Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt. "But there is one answer that we can already give today. And that is that we will defend our democracy." Denmark's Queen Margrethe called on the Danes to stick together after the terrorist attacks.

On Saturday afternoon, the assassin fired an automatic weapon from outside the cultural café where an event on "Art, Blasphemy and Free Speech" was taking place. The 55-year-old film director Finn Nørgaard was killed and three police officers were injured.

Motives initially unclear

Head of the secret service Jens Madsen said that the attacker was known to the security authorities. On Sunday evening, the Danish police announced that the suspected perpetrator was a 22-year-old man who was born in Denmark. He had come to the attention of the security authorities through various criminal offenses such as possession of weapons, acts of violence and bank crime. His name has not been released. The attack was presumably aimed at the Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks. Islamists have criticized him for years because of his Muhammad cartoons. He has already been the target of several attacks. Vilks was unharmed. A manhunt was launched immediately. According to the police, the assassin first fled in a dark VW Polo and then by cab. He had himself driven to his apartment not far away. Around ten hours after the first attack, the same perpetrator probably tried to break into a synagogue after midnight. He opened fire and fatally shot a man in the head - a 37-year-old volunteer security guard, according to the Jewish community. Two police officers were injured. Around 80 people were gathered in the building for a celebration - the bat mitzvah. In the meantime, the police had taken up position in front of the man's apartment. Shortly before 5.00 a.m., the alleged perpetrator returned. The security forces called out to him. He immediately opened fire. The officers fired back and fatally shot him.

No stay as a jihadist

The investigators initially did not want to reveal the identity of the man. "He comes from Copenhagen, that's all we can say," said PET chief Madsen. There was no evidence of accomplices or that the man had been a jihadist in Syria or Iraq. Panic and chaos reigned in Copenhagen at times. The events took place in the city center. The situation was completely unclear for hours. The German Federal Police were also deployed and monitored traffic at the three border crossings in Flensburg. German Chancellor Angela Merkel expressed her condolences to the families of the victims. In a telephone conversation with Thorning-Schmidt, she emphasized that Germany stands firmly by Denmark's side in the face of the inhumane attacks. EU Council President Donald Tusk said: "Our determination to combat all forms of extremism and terrorism is only strengthened by such attacks."

French President François Hollande paid a visit to the Danish embassy in Paris. Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve traveled to Copenhagen and laid flowers at the site of the first attack - together with Danish Justice Minister Mette Frederiksen and French Ambassador François Zimeray. Zimeray had survived the attack on the cultural café.

British Prime Minister David Cameron expressed his concern. The USA offered its help to Denmark. Saudi Arabia also condemned the two terrorist attacks in Copenhagen and recalled the killing of three Muslims in the USA. Copenhagen will commemorate the victims of the weekend on Monday evening.

Charlie Hebdo sees Islamists' war on culture

Now more than ever: For Charlie Hebdo, the attacks in Copenhagen are no reason to practice self-censorship out of fear. "It's terrible, because this is happening a month after the Paris attacks, and it brings back all the sadness," Charlie Hebdo chronicler Patrick Pelloux told the AFP news agency. "These fascist integrists are waging a war against culture." They are trying to eliminate writers, illustrators and filmmakers through fear, Pelloux said.

Imprint supports the resistance against intimidation

In a press release issued on Sunday, Impressum supports the resistance against intimidation and the fight for an open, pluralistic, democratic society. According to the journalists' association, this includes freedom of the press and freedom of expression as well as other fundamental freedoms such as freedom of religion, from which everyone also benefits. Impressum is dismayed by the cruelty and radicalization and expresses its deepest condolences to the relatives. The association is committed to defending these values and freedoms. At the same time, it warned that the attacks would not be used as a reason to restrict freedoms. The discussion about this area of tension must be conducted openly. Impressum will actively participate in this discussion with regard to journalism. (SDA/hae/PD)