Copenhagen shootings suspect 'had criminal record'

A suspected gunman killed by police after two deadly shootings in Copenhagen was 22 years old and had a background in criminal gangs.

Copenhagen police said the suspect was born in Denmark and had a criminal record, including for violence and weapons offences. They have not released his name.

Police said they had found an automatic weapon that may have been the one the suspect used in an attack on a cultural centre hosting a free speech event.

The first shooting happened before 4pm local time yesterday when a gunman used an automatic weapon to shoot through the windows of the Krudttoenden cultural centre during a discussion on freedom of expression featuring a Swedish artist who caricatured the Prophet Mohammed.

The artist, Lars Vilks, was whisked away unharmed by his bodyguards but a 55-year-old man attending the event was killed, while three police officers were wounded.

Two belonged to the Danish security service PET, which said the circumstances surrounding the shooting “indicate that we are talking about a terror attack”.

Early this morning, police said one man was killed and two police officers wounded in another shooting outside a synagogue by a gunman who fled on foot.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is now calling for the “massive immigration” of European Jews to his country following a shooting outside the synagogue that killed a man.

Mr Netanyahu said the government will discuss a $46m plan to encourage Jewish immigration from France, Belgium and Ukraine.

“This wave of attacks is expected to continue,” he said at the start of a Cabinet meeting. “Jews deserve security in every country, but we say to our Jewish brothers and sisters, Israel is your home.”

A 37-year-old Jewish security guard was killed while standing guard at a bat mitzvah celebration in Copenhagen.

Jair Melchior, Denmark’s chief rabbi, said he was “disappointed” by Mr Netanyahu’s call for immigration following the attack.

“Terror is not a reason to move to Israel,” he said.