Synagogue Attacks in Copenhagen News: Police Kill Suspect In Deadly Cafe, Synagogue Slayings

Danish police on Sunday shot and killed a man suspected of killing two people and wounding five police officers in a cafe and synagogue in Copenhagen in attacks reminiscent of the ones staged in Paris last month, including the attack on the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, authorities said.

Denmark's spy chief Jens Madsen said the gunman was known to the intelligence services prior to the shooting and probably acted alone, Reuters reported.

Two civilians were killed and five police were wounded in the two separate attacks in the Danish capital on Saturday.

"We cannot yet say anything concrete about the motive ... but are considering that he might have been inspired by the events in Paris some weeks ago," Madsen told a news conference.

The gunman was a Danish-born 22-year-old known to police because of past violence, gang-related activities and possession of weapons, the police said on Sunday. The police said they had identified the man, who was killed in an early-morning shootout on Sunday, but did not release his name.

The day before, the suspect gunned down Finn Nørgaard, 55, a film director who was attending a debate at the Krudttønden cafe featuring Swedish artist Lars Vilks, who had depicted the prophet Muhamad in cartoons, according to The Guardian.

French Ambassador Francois Zimeray was one of those attending the cafe event titled "Art, Blasphemy and Freedom of Expression."

According to witnesses, 40 shots rang out and the police considered Vilks as the main target.

"The rather spare audience got to experience fear and horror – and tragedy. I can't say it affected me as I was well looked after," Vilks wrote in a blog post.

Moments later, the suspect went to a synagogue in Krystalgade and shot dead 37-year-old Dan Uzan, who was guarding the synagogue, and wounded two police officers.

"He was a member of the community, a fantastic guy," Rabbi Bent Lexner, Denmark's former chief rabbi, told Israeli Army Radio. "We are in shock. I am sitting now with the parents of the man killed. We didn't think such a thing could happen in Denmark."

The suspect was shot dead by the police on Sunday near a train station in Norrebro, which was near the sites of the two attacks, the report added.

"We assume that it's the same culprit behind both incidents... that was shot by the police," Chief police inspector Torben Molgaard Jensen said.

Denmark Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt mourned the deaths. "Two innocent people have lost their lives as a result of a cynical terrorist act against Denmark," she said in a statement.

"Through day and night, the police acted quickly and focused in order to ensure citizens' safety," she added. "I'm happy and relieved that the police have disarmed the suspected perpetrator behind the two shootings. I will continue to urge all to follow police instructions and be vigilant."

She added, "I would like to express my deepest respect for the considerable efforts of the police and other authorities. This applies especially to the injured officers and their colleagues, who selflessly put themselves in danger in order to protect the rest of us directly."

"No one should get away with attacking an open, free and democratic society," the prime minister said.