From the first attack at a cafe to a gunfight between the suspect and the police

The incident began on Saturday, around 3.30pm (2.30pm GMT). Film director Finn Nørgaard, 55, was killed and three police officers were wounded when a gunman opened fire on the Krudttønden cafe in the central Østerbro district. The cafe was hosting a free-speech debate involving the Swedish artist Lars Vilks, whose cartoons of the prophet Muhammad have sparked controversy. Nørgaard was reportedly shot dead at close range after going outside for an unknown reason at the time the attacker struck.

Audio obtained by the BBC captures the moment of the attack. A speaker can be heard discussing the limits of free speech when shots ring out. At least 40 shots can be heard on the recording.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Warning: Readers may find this content distressing. Audio captures moment gunman opens fire at Copenhagen free speech debate. Source: BBC

At 4.15pm, a suspect arrived by taxi at a building complex near Nørrebro station in central Copenhagen. He stayed there for a short time, leaving at 4.37pm. A huge manhunt was launched, and police initially said they were looking for two perpetrators.

At 5.50pm, police found the suspected getaway car, a VW Polo.



At 11pm, police gained access to surveillance footage from an address under investigation in Nørrebro.



In the early hours of Sunday, at around 1am, a man opened fire outside Copenhagen’s central synagogue. A Jewish volunteer guard, 37-year-old Dan Uzan, was shot in the head and died from his injuries. Two police officers were shot but survived. The dead man was acting as a door guard at a bat mitzvah that had been taking place inside the building.

The gunman fled the scene.

At 4.50am, the suspect returned to the apartment complex near Nørrebro station. By that time, the building was under police surveillance after officers were given access to the CCTV system. Police said they called out to the man and he opened fire on them. After an exchange of fire, he was shot dead.

“At one point, a person who could be interesting in relation to the investigation arrived at the site,” police said in a statement. After police called out to him, “he opened fire against the police and was thereafter shot,” the statement added.

No officers were injured in the exchange of fire. Police later said they believe the suspect was responsible for both attacks.

Later on Sunday, a police operation got under way, with officers searching a flat in the residential area of Mjølnerparken in the Nørrebro district of the city, near where the suspect was shot and killed. A police spokesman told the newspaper Ekstra Bladet: “Police are searching for clues and evidence in relation to the events that took place yesterday and overnight.”

The gunman was known to Danish intelligence, the head of the country’s security service said. Jens Madsen said the killer may have been “inspired by militant Islamist propaganda issued by IS [Islamic State] and other terror organisations”, but it was not yet known whether he had travelled to Iraq or Syria before the attacks.

Police said they knew the suspect’s name, but would not name him because of the ongoing operation. He had been “on the radar” of the intelligence services, police said, adding that they had recovered a weapon believed to have been used in the first attack.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest The Jewish synagogue is still under heavy police surveillance. Photograph: Freya Ingrid Morales/EPA

The Danish prime minister, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, praised the police and condemned the “cynical act of terror” against Denmark.

At a press conference, she said:



This is a very sad morning when we all send our thoughts to the victims and their relatives. Two innocent people have lost their lives as the result of a cynical act of terror against Denmark.

Throughout the day and night, police have acted quickly and focused to ensure citizens’ safety. I am happy and relieved that police have disarmed the suspected perpetrator behind the two shootings. I will continue to encourage everyone to follow police instructions and be vigilant.

I would like to express my deepest respect for the police and other authorities’ efforts. This applies especially to the wounded officers and their colleagues, who selflessly put themselves in direct danger to protect us. The government is closely monitoring developments. No one should get away with attacking the open, free and democratic Danish society.