Authorities said that the Copenhagen mall shooting suspect charged with the murder of at least three people had mental health issues and has been put in a psychiatric facility for 24 days.
Police said earlier that the 22-year-old Danish man was known to psychiatric professionals as he was charged with manslaughter for the horrific incident. The court that heard the case on Monday also put a ban on naming both the suspect and the 10 victims named in the charge, said the police in a series of Twitter posts.
Mental Health Issues
The horrifying incident happened on Sunday at multiple locations inside Field's, a shopping center located in the Danish capital. Social media footage showed residents running through the mall and heavily-armed law enforcement officers in the area.
During a Monday morning press conference, Copenhagen's Head of Police Soren Thomassen said that two 17-year-old Danish citizens, one male and one female, and a 47-year-old Russian national had been killed in the gunfire.
Authorities reported that two other Danes and two Swedish nationals had received gunshot wounds and were in critical but stable condition. Several others sustained minor injuries while leaving the mall, said Thomassen, as per CNN.
In a statement, police revealed that three people were lightly injured by stray bullets and a total of 27 people were wounded or injured in the attack. They added that 20 of them were "lightly injured during the evacuation."
The man that authorities arrested in relation to the shooting is currently the only suspect in the horrific tragedy. Thomassen added that there was no indication that the suspect was acting with others but an investigation was still ongoing.
According to Newsweek, the incident comes as gun violence crimes are rare in Denmark because residents are not allowed to own fully-automatic firearms and semi-automatic weapons, and handguns are only allowed with special authorization.
Copenhagen Mall Shooting
Danish citizens who want to be licensed gun owners are required to demonstrate a genuine reason to possess a firearm, such as for collection or hunting. Applicants must also be at least 18 years old and are required to pass a background check that includes a criminal and mental health records check.
There were reports that prior to the shooting, the suspect allegedly posted an online statement saying that antipsychotic medication "does not work." The gunman reportedly also posted videos on social media on Saturday where he posed with guns.
The shopping mall shooting also occurred as Denmark celebrated hosting the first three stages of the Tour de France for the first time. In a statement, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen denounced the act of violence.
Frederikson said that Denmark was hit by a cruel attack on Sunday night, noting that several people were killed and injured. He added that families who were shopping or eating out were among the victims, including children, adolescents, and adults.
The prime minister encouraged residents to stand together and support each other in this difficult time. He also called the attack the "worst possible nightmare," adding that the shooting was "unusually brutal," PBS News Hour reported.
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