LONDON — At least three people were killed and four others were critically wounded in a shooting at a Copenhagen shopping mall on Sunday, authorities said.
People are seen running during the evacuation of the Fields shopping center after reports of a shooting in Copenhagen, Denmark, on July 3, 2022.
Olafur Steinar Gestsson/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images
Police responded to reports of a shooting at the Field’s shopping center in Denmark’s capital just before 5:30 p.m.local time on Sunday. A boy and girl, both 17-year-old Danish citizens, and a 47-year-old Russian man were killed when a gunman opened fire there, according to Copenhagen chief police inspector Søren Thomassen.
Armed Police arrive at Field’s shopping center, after Danish police said they received reports of shooting, in Copenhagen, Denmark, July 3, 2022.
Olafur Steinar Gestsson/Scanpix via Reuters
As of Monday, four people — two Danish and two Swedish citizens — remain hospitalized in critical but stable condition. Several others suffered minor injuries while fleeing the mall, Thomassen said.
People run in front of the Fields shopping center after reports of shots fired in Oerstad, Copenhagen, Denmark, July 3, 2022.
Olafur Steinar Gestsson/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
The suspect — a 22-year-old man with a history of mental health issues — was arrested at the scene, according to Thomassen. The man was expected to be arraigned in a Danish court on Monday on preliminary charges of murder.
People gather in front of the Fields shopping center during evacuation by armed police in Oerstad, Copenhagen, Denmark, July 3 2022.
Olafur Steinar Gestsson/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
The deadly shooting remains under investigation. While a motive was unknown, Thomassen said the victims appeared to have been randomly targeted and the gunman was believed to have acted alone. There was also nothing to suggest terrorism, he said.
“There is nothing in our investigation, or the documents we have reviewed, or the things we have found, or the witnesses’ statements we have gotten, that can substantiate that this is an act of terrorism,” the police inspector told reporters during a press conference Monday.