Police have arrested a 43-year-old who on Sunday exacted revenge after his son's moped was stolen by two Nørrebro teenagers and he gave chase in his van. His actions, at speeds of over 100 kilometres per hour, resulted in the death of 16-year-old Mahmoud Hussein.
Tension in Nørrebro remains high as witnesses reported that the man used his van to chase the boys down a bike path near Mjølnerparken before running them down on Heimdalsgade near where they both attended school.
“Mahmoud was killed right next to his school,” Hussein’s sister Amina told Ekstra Bladet. “My brother was a peaceful, quiet kid who was loved by everyone.”
A deliberate act
Police continue to try and sort out the facts surrounding the incident, but witnesses claim the motorist was the father of a young man who reported that his moped had been stolen. They report that the suspect was chasing the thieves when he ran them down.
“The police's initial assessment is that this was a deliberate act and the man will be charged with involuntary manslaughter,” prosecutor Charlotte Møgelhøj told Ekstra Bladet.
“We know where you live”
The suspect admitted in Copenhagen City Court on Monday that he had run the boys down, but denied it was intentional.
“I just wanted to scare them so they would stop,” he said. "I wouldn’t kill someone over a 3,500 kroner moped.”
The man said he was threatened repeatedly while he was waiting with the boys for the police and ambulance to arrive.
“About 30 young people came and said: ‘If he dies, we will kill you. We know your family. We know where you live.’”
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The two boys were taken to hospital, were Hussein was pronounced dead. His passenger was also injured, but was out of serious danger.
Police said that there was nothing to suggest that drugs or alcohol were involved in the incident.
