Gunmen spray bullets into a Copenhagen cafe holding free speech event

One person was killed in what security services described as a probable terror attack on a meeting in a Copenhagen cafe to discuss free speech. A 40-year-old man died and three police officers are understood to have been injured in the attack on Krudttoenden cafe shortly before 4pm local time on Saturday afternoon. The event had been organised by Swedish artist Lars Vilks, who had faced a number of threats to his life after caricaturing the Prophet Mohammed in 2007.

I saw a masked man running past. A couple of police officers were injured. I clearly consider this as an attack on Lars Vilks.

Helle Merete Brix, event organiser

About 30 bullet holes were seen in the windows of cafe in the north of the city after the attack and at least two people were seen being taken away on stretchers, local channel TV2 said. Witnesses said the police returned fire after someone shouted and fired an automatic weapon at the cafe. Another of the organisers Helle Merete Brix said Mr Vilks was present at the event but not injured. The cafe is known for its jazz concerts and was hosting an event titled ‘Art, blasphemy and the freedom of expression’ when the shots were fired. Two suspects are understood to have fled in a Volkswagen Polo and are still on the run. Police said the getaway car has been found abandoned.

They fired on us from the outside. It was the same intention as Charlie Hebdo except they didn’t manage to get in.

François Zimeray, the French ambassador to Denmark, was also at the meeting