THREE people were shot dead in a Copenhagen shopping center yesterday – just hours before Harry Styles performed nearby.
Three other victims were in critical condition last night after a maniac gunman opened fire on the capital’s Field’s shopping mall.
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Emergency services were rushed into the horror rampage shortly after 5.30pm, with Danish cops later confirming three were dead.
Copenhagen Police Inspector Soren Thomassen said last night the victims were a man in his 40s and two youngsters.
He then confirmed that a 22-year-old Dane had been charged with manslaughter.
Mr Thomassen said earlier the man’s motive was unclear but could not rule out “an act of terrorism”.
He added that the suspect will be questioned by a judge today.
Haunting footage from before his arrest shows the gunman carrying a huge rifle over his shoulder as he paces around the mall.
A brave bystander films from about 100 yards away as the man, dressed in shorts and a vest, appears to wait for his victims.
It is not yet known how many people were injured at the scene, a few hundred meters from the Royal Arena – where Harry Styles’ concert was canceled at the last minute.
The Watermelon Sugar singer was forced to cancel the concert at Eleventh Post after security concerns from the police.
He said earlier that he was “praying for everyone involved”.
Danish cops wrote on Twitter on Sunday afternoon: “We are still present, shots were fired and several people were hit.
“We are working on the spot. The people of the Champs must stay and wait for the police.
“All other people should stay away from Fields.”
Witnesses described hearing several gunshots shortly before the “chaos” erupted.
Mums were seen clutching babies as terrified shoppers fled the horror scenes.
A bystander, Mahdi Al-Wazni, reported seeing the shooter with a “shotgun” 200 yards away.
They told TV 2 News: “He had a light face. He was wearing hunting or military clothes with a cap.”
Someone else recounted how Danish police fired warning shots and yelled at a man to ‘drop the gun’.
They told Ekstra Bladet: “We heard them shout ‘drop the gun’ and fired a few warning shots, then we continued on our way.
“We immediately exited the garage and turned right towards Kastrup Airport, where we saw three to four police officers yelling at a man with a gun in his hand.”
Emilie Jeppesen, 20, told Denmark’s Jyllands Posten: “You didn’t know what was going on. Suddenly there was chaos everywhere.
We immediately exited the garage and turned right towards Kastrup Airport, where we saw three to four police officers yelling at a man with a gun in his hand.
Eye-witness
“We were sitting down and going to eat and suddenly we could see people running.
“So we first thought ‘why are people running?’ But then we heard gunshots.”
Her friend Astrid Kofoed Jørgensen, added: “Everyone in the restaurant was led into the kitchen, then when we sat down there we could hear three or four knocks.”
Another witness, Jacob Sahin Ekman, told the publication he thought he heard “about 15 gunshots”.
The 27-year-old said he was about to eat with a friend when the shooting started.
He added: “He came out to talk on the phone, and all of a sudden he sprinted down Dalle Valle and said, ‘Lay down, lay down. Someone shoots.
“Then I went under the bar and lay down.
“Everything was very unreal like a movie.”
My team and I are praying for everyone involved in the Copenhagen Mall shooting.
Harry Styles
It has emerged since the shooter posted videos of himself with the rifle on YouTube last week, Jyllands-Posten reports.
The clips, which have since been taken down, were reportedly uploaded under the caption: “I don’t care”.
One of the clips referenced the drug Quetiapine – used to treat psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar depression and mania.
He reportedly said the medicine wasn’t working.
Police last night urged anyone who was at Field’s home to contact their loved ones.
Meanwhile, Harry Styles said in a statement: “My team and I are praying for everyone involved in the shooting in the Copenhagen mall.
“I’m in shock. Dearest, H.”
Many fans had already abandoned their intention to attend his concert for fear of safety.
A fan wrote on Twitter: So there was a shooting near Harry’s concert in Copenhagen which I was supposed to attend but I’m on my way home now.
“My friend and I are fine, but a lot of Harries are leaving the gig out of worry now.”
Harry, who performed in London last week, is on a world tour.
He is then due to perform in Paris on Tuesday.
Field’s is Denmark’s largest shopping center with over 140 shops and restaurants.
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