Danish Police Charge Two With Aiding Copenhagen Shooting Suspect

Danish police said on Monday they had charged two people who they detained a day earlier with aiding the man suspected of shooting dead two people in attacks on a synagogue and an event promoting free speech in Copenhagen at the weekend.

• Jewish Guard Killed in Denmark 'Irreplaceable'
• Danish Jews Treading Fine Line
• Hollande Vows to Defend France's Jews
• 'Denmark Gunman Not Part of Wider Cell'
• Envoy: Danish Solidarity With Jews Is Real
• Questions Arise About Danish Security
• Jewish Leader: No Need to Tell EU Jews to Flee
• Suspicious Package Found Outside Copenhagen Cafe

"The two men are charged with helping through advice and deeds the perpetrator in relation to the shootings at Krudttonden and in Krystalgade," the police said in a statement, referring to the location of the two attacks.

The police had no further comment.

Also Monday, a Danish newspaper reported that the gunman pretended to be drunk when he approached the synagogue.

The Politiken newspaper said the shooter had stumbled around on the narrow street that runs in front of the synagogue early Sunday before shooting Dan Uzan in the head and wounding two police officers.

Uzan, 37, was in charge of checking visitors at a Bat Mitzvah.

Police said the 22-year-old gunman also carried out an attack Saturday at an event promoting free speech where film director Finn Norgaard, 55, died and three police officers were wounded.

Police shot and killed the suspect early Sunday outside his apartment building.

Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt and the mayor of Paris were to attend a memorial Monday evening at the Krudttonden cafe, the venue of the free speech event that was titled Art, Blasphemy and Freedom of Expression.

The suspected gunman has been named by some media, which reported that he was recently released from a prison term for a stabbing. Police said he was born in Denmark and had a lengthy criminal record including weapons possession and assault.

Jens Madsen, head of Danish security service PET, said he believed the shooter was "inspired by the attacks in Paris," referring to the Islamist killing spree that left 17 people dead, including 12 at the offices of the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, known for its caricatures of the prophet Mohammed.

The headmaster of an adult education centre attended by the suspect described him as "a good, hardworking student."

Peter Zinkernagel told Danish television the whole school was shocked that the former student was identified as the perpetrator of the weekend attacks that claimed two lives and left five people wounded.