The deadly shootings took place at a meeting entitled “Art, Blasphemy and Freedom of Expression" on Saturday and outside the city's main synagogue on Sunday.
This statement was originally published on europeanjournalists.org on 14 February 2015.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) strongly condemn the deadly shootings which took place Saturday and early Sunday in Copenhagen. One civilian has been killed and three police officers injured after armed men opened fire on Krudttønden meeting place, on Saturday. The title of the meeting was: “Art, Blasphemy and Freedom of Expression”. In the second attack, early Sunday, outside the city’s main synagogue, a man was shot in the head and later died, and two officers were wounded.
The Saturday meeting was attended by Lars Vilks, the controversial Swedish artist who has faced death threats for caricaturing the prophet Muhammad. François Zimeray, the French ambassador to Denmark, was also participating in the debate, as keynote speaker. Neither Vilks nor Zimeray were injured, but at least one citizen, the Danish film director Finn Nørgaard, was killed in the attack.
At about 1am, on Sunday, another Danish citizen, Dan Uzan, was killed while guarding the synagogue in Krystalgade during a bat mitzvah celebration. Two police officers were also hit.
The IFJ and the EFJ condemns these crimes against freedom of expression and free and open dialogue in our democracies. “The European journalists’ unions and associations stand united with Danish citizens in refusing intimidation and upholding the right to a free and open debate without fear,” said Mogens Blicher Bjerregård, President of the EFJ.
