Jewish American Heritage Month

Posted By richards on February 16, 2015

COPENHAGEN Danish police have arrested two people on suspicion of aiding a gunman in deadly attacks on a synagogue and an event promoting free speech at the weekend that have shocked a nation proud of its record of safety and openness.

A 22-year-old gunman opened fire on a cafe in Copenhagen hosting a free speech debate on Saturday, killing one, and attacked a synagogue, killing a guard. The man was later shot dead by police in his neighborhood of Norrebro, a poor and largely immigrant part of the city with a reputation for gang violence.

The cafe event was attended by Swedish artist Lars Vilks, who has received death threats for drawings of the Prophet Mohammad, and by French ambassador Francois Zimeray, who likened the attacks to the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris. Vilks and Zimeray were both unharmed.

"The two men are suspected of helping the perpetrator by giving him advice and assistance in connection with the shootings at Krudttndenre and Krystalgade," police said in a statement on Monday, referring to the locations of the attacks.

A Copenhagen judge later remanded the two suspects to 10 days in detention.

The killings shocked Danes who pride themselves on a welcoming and safe society, and fed into a national debate about the role of immigrants, especially Muslims. The populist Danish People Party, which campaigned against the building of a mosque here, has strong support in the polls.

Denmark became a target of Islamists 10 years ago after the publication of cartoons lampooning the Prophet Mohammad, images that led to sometimes violent protests in the Muslim world.

The detention of possible accomplices may heighten fears that this was not just an attack by a lone wolf, but possibly backed by a more organized group of marginalized youths radicalized by time in jail or unemployment.

There was no suggestion that foreign jihadi groups played a role, however.

"We're not talking about a fighter who has been abroad in Syria or Iraq. We are talking about a man who was known to the police due to his gang activities, criminal activities inside Denmark," Foreign Minister Martin Lidegaard told the BBC.

See more here:

Synagogue shooting update: Danish police arrest 2 suspected accomplices

Category: Synagogue
Tags: