Danish mass shooter remanded in psychiatric ward as Harry Styles says he is ‘heartbroken’
The suspect in a Copenhagen mass shooting has been remanded in a psychiatric ward as singer Harry Styles spoke out about the tragedy that killed three including two teens. WARNING: GRAPHIC
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The chief suspect in a Copenhagen mall shooting has been remanded into a psychiatric care facility, one day after three people, including two teenagers, were shot dead.
“The court remands the 22-year-old in a closed psychiatric ward,” Copenhagen police said in a statement, following a two-hour hearing involving the suspect.
The suspected perpetrator of the attack, which took place late on Sunday afternoon, would be kept in custody for at least 24 days, which can then be extended, according to police.
The young man was brought before a judge at midday on Monday at the Copenhagen district court.
Wearing a blue T-shirt, he listened as the indictment for murder was read out, before the hearing continued behind closed doors.
According to public broadcaster DR, citing several unnamed sources, the suspected gunman had tried to reach a psychological help line shortly before the attack, but authorities would not confirm this.
Copenhagen police chief Soren Thomassen had already told a morning press conference that the “suspect is also known among psychiatric services”, but declined to comment further.
The attack occurred on the heels of the city playing host to the start of the Tour de France cycling competition and seeing the return of the Roskilde music festival after being cancelled due to Covid-19 curbs.
The three killed have been identified as two Danish teens, a girl and boy both aged 17, and a 47-year-old Russian living in Denmark.
Speaking at an afternoon press conference, Copenhagen police inspector Dannie Rise said that in total 10 people had been injured by gunfire, including the three dead, with another four being seriously injured.
Rise also said police had received a large amount of witness accounts and videos from the public, and were in the process of “putting the puzzle together” to establish a motive.
Given the victims’ varied ages and genders, Thomassen said they appeared to have been randomly targeted and there was nothing to indicate it was an act of terror.
Thomassen added that they believed videos of the suspect, which have circulated on social media, to be authentic.
In some of the images, the suspect can be seen posing with weapons, mimicking suicide gestures and talking about psychiatric medication “that does not work”.
Three videos believed to have been posted to YouTube by the suspect were all titled “I don’t care”.
Eyewitnesses told Danish media they had seen more than 100 people rush towards the mall’s exit as the first shots were fired.
HARRY STYLES ‘HEARTBROKEN’, CANCELS CONCERT
The mall was busy because of a planned concert with British singer Harry Styles at the nearby Royal Arena that had sold 13,500 tickets but was cancelled at the last minute.
“We got dressed for the concert, we were on our way,” Maria Enevoldsen, who had returned to the mall Monday to pick up her car, told AFP.
“Our friend (in the mall) called, asking ‘are you OK?’ and then we heard gunshots over the phone,” she said.
Harry Styles shared a heartfelt message to the victims saying he was “devastated” and “heartbroken”, and apologised the show had to be cancelled.
“I’m heartbroken ... I adore this city,” Styles wrote in a Tweet.
“I am devastated for the victims, their families, and everyone hurting.
“I’m sorry we couldn’t be together. Please look after each other.”
I’m heartbroken along with the people of Copenhagen. I adore this city. The people are so warm and full of love.
— Harry Styles. (@Harry_Styles) July 3, 2022
I’m devastated for the victims, their families, and everyone hurting.
I’m sorry we couldn’t be together. Please look after each other. H
The Royal Area gig was initially planned to go ahead after the shooting at nearby Field's Shopping Centre, but was cancelled on the advice of police, The Sun reports.
The decision was made after people had started flocking to the stadium for the concert.
SUSPECTED SHOOTER KNOWN TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
Danish police said that the suspect in a shooting at a Copenhagen mall that left three dead, including two teenagers, was known to mental health services.
“Our suspect is also known among psychiatric services, beyond that I do not wish to comment,” Copenhagen police chief Soren Thomassen told a press conference on Monday.
Mr Thomassen added that the victims appeared to have been randomly targeted and there was nothing to indicate it was an act of terror.
“Our assessment is that the victims were random, that it isn’t motivated by gender or something else,” Mr Thomassen said.
The police chief could not yet comment on a motive, but said there seemed to have been preparation ahead of the attack and that the 22-year-old suspect was not aided by anyone else.
“As things stand, it seems he was acting alone,” he said.
Police chief Thomassen said while the motive was unclear, he could not rule out “an act of terrorism” which took place at Denmark’s biggest shopping mall.
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said Denmark had suffered a cruel attack as she sent condolences to those who had lost a loved one.
“Denmark was hit by a cruel attack on Sunday night,” she said. “Several were killed. Even more wounded. Innocent families shopping or eating out. Children, adolescents and adults.”
“Our beautiful and usually so safe capital was changed in a split second,” she added.
Denmark’s royal family said their “deepest sympathy” was with ”the victims, their relatives and all those who are affected by the tragedy”.
“We do not yet know the full extent of the tragedy, but it is already clear that more people have lost their lives and that even more have been injured,” said the joint statement by Queen Margrethe, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary.
Harrowing footage shows terrified shoppers running for safety after a gunman with an ‘automatic weapon’ opened fire at Field’s Shopping Mall in Copenhagen.
It is not yet confirmed how many people were shot at the venue, just a few hundred metres from the Royal Arena, but some reports say three people are dead.
Police urged the public to stay away, as fans inside were told to leave the venue after Styles’ gig was cancelled, despite reports it would still go ahead.
In a series of tweets earlier on Sunday, police said they had sent officers to a large mall in the capital named Field’s, after receiving reports of a shooting.
“Terrible reports of shooting in Fields. We do not yet know for sure how many were injured or dead, but it is very serious,” Copenhagen’s mayor, Sophie H Andersen, tweeted.
Witnesses described hearing multiple gunshots shortly before “chaos” erupted at around 5pm Sunday afternoon, local time.
Mums were seen clutching babies as terrified shoppers fled the horror scenes.
Emilie Jeppesen, 20, told Denmark’s Jyllands Posten: “You didn’t know what was happening. Suddenly there was just chaos everywhere.
New video of the shooter in #Fields#Copenhagen#Denmark
— â“‚ï¸ Dr.Galaxy🇮🇶 (@dr_mrna) July 3, 2022
Saying “they are not real†pic.twitter.com/LcVMwoL4sl
“We were sitting and going to eat and suddenly we could see people running.
“Then we first thought ‘why do people run?’ But then we could hear shots.”
Her friend Astrid Kofoed Jørgensen, added: “Everyone in the restaurant was shown out into the kitchen, and then when we sat out there we could hear three or four shots.”
Another witness, Jacob Sahin Ekman, told the publication he thought he heard “about 15 shots”.
The 27-year-old said he was about to eat with a friend when the shooting began.
He said: “He went out to talk on the phone, and suddenly he sprinted into Dalle Valle and said, ‘Lie down, lie down. Someone is shooting.
“Then I went under the bar and lay down. It was all very unreal like a movie.”
Police have urged anyone who was at Fields today to contact their relatives.
One fan wrote on Twitter: “So there was a shooting near the Harry concert in Copenhagen that I was supposed to attend but I’m on my way home now.”
“M my friend and I are okay, but lots of Harries are leaving the concert out of worry now.”
Harry, who performed in London this week, is in the midst of his world tour.
He is next set to perform in Paris on Tuesday.
Shortly after the shooting, the royal palace said a reception with Crown Prince Frederik connected to the Tour de France cycling race had been cancelled.
The first three stages of the race were held in Denmark this year, the palace said in a statement.
The reception was due to be held on the royal yacht that is moored in Sønderborg, the town where the third stage ended.
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