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Man dies in second Copenhagen shooting

February 15, 2015

A major police search operation is underway in Copenhagen after a second man died in a shooting in Copenhagen. The Prime Minister has said all resources will be used to bring the perpetrators before a judge.

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Dänemark Kopenhagen Schießerei Blasphemie Debatte
Image: picture-alliance/AP Photo/J. Engel

Police in Copenhagen warned residents to stay off the streets of the Danish capital early Sunday after two shootings within eight hours of each other left two people dead and six others wounded. Police said it was too early to say if the attacks were linked.

Helicopters circled over the Danish capital late into the night as armed police, some in armored vehicles, hunted for the suspect or suspects in the shootings. Authorities evacuated the nearby Noerreport train station and trains were not stopping. Roadblocks were set up and public areas were cleared after the second shooting. It is the biggest police operation in Denmark's recent history.

The second attack in the early hours of Sunday happened on Krystalgade, near the capital city's main synagogue. A 55-year-old man was shot in the head and later died, according to police spokesman Allan Wadsworth-Hansen. Two policemen were shot in the arm and leg.

A suspect fled the scene on foot and a manhunt continues.

Vehicles travelling towards Sweden on the Oresund Bridge are being searched. Surveillance has been stepped up at border entries to Germany.

Police said they were looking for a male suspect aged 25 to 30. They also released a number of surveillance camera photos.

Cafe attack

Hours earlier on Saturday, a gunman burst into a cafe where controversial cartoonist Lars Vilks and his supporters had gathered. One man was killed and three police officers were wounded before the gunman fled the scene, police said.

After the attack, what appeared to be the man, dressed in dark clothes, stole a car and drove away, police said. The vehicle was found between two train stations. The man is still being hunted by police.

Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt said that "all resources will be used to find (those responsible) and bring them before a judge."

"We have some difficult days ahead," she said.

The French ambassador to Denmark had attended the discussion at the cafe and was present during the attack. He compared the shooting to the January attack on the Charlie Hebdo newspaper in Paris by Islamist militants.

jm/sb (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)