Copenhagen rocked by three fatal shootings in three nights

Incoming mayor Sophie Hæstorp Andersen concerned that a member of the public might get caught up in the violence

A 39-year-old man is in a critical condition after being shot at a hookah bar on Saturday evening on Åboulevard in Frederiksberg around five blocks from the City Lakes.

The incident was the third consecutive fatal shooting in the Copenhagen gangland world.

The first was a man in his mid-20s, who was shot in the back on Nørrebrogade in Nørrebro on Thursday.

The second was a man who was killed in a hair salon in Rødovre, a district in the central-western suburbs of Greater Copenhagen, on Friday. Two others were wounded in the attack.

Incoming mayor concerned for the public
The police are concerned that it won’t be long before a member of the public is injured or killed as a result of the escalating violence – an opinion also expressed by the incoming mayor, Sophie Hæstorp Andersen.

“We fear that at some point it will hurt the innocent,” she told TV2. 

“It creates insecurity, and it is unnecessary violence that we do not want in our city.”

Swede in custody well known to authorities
Two men were arrested shortly after the Nørrebrogade shooting on Thursday. One is believed to be the assailant and the other the designated driver – an 18-year-old Dane.

The ‘assailant’ is a 21-year-old Swede convicted, but then later acquitted last year of planning a murder in southern Sweden. Nevertheless, he was found guilty of a lesser charge for which he received two years in prison.

He will now remain in custody until December 22. It is believed he fired five shots on Nørrebrogade at two men. 

Photo of assailant
The victim on Åboulevard is described as being a Dane with a different ethnic origin other than Danish.

Police have released a photo of the man they believe was the assailant: an image obtained from the Netto on nearby HC Ørstedsvej.

He is described as a young man with a full beard approximately 175 cm tall. He was dressed entirely in black – including his facemask.

The shooting took place at 21:30 at a shisha bar located at Åboulevard 39.

It could be anyone (photo: Copenhagen Police)