Danish police say several people have been killed and a suspect has been arrested in a shooting at a busy shopping center in Copenhagen.
The numbers or status of all those killed by the shots were not immediately available amid confusion over what had happened at one of Scandinavia’s largest malls.
Copenhagen Police Chief Inspector Soren Thomasson said officers had no indication that there was more than one shooter. He said the suspect detained was a 22-year-old Danish man, and that “terrorism” cannot be ruled out as a motive.
“We know that many people have been killed” and “many have been injured”, Thomson said at a news conference. “We’re not aware that others are involved. That’s what we know now.”
A spokesman said the capital’s main hospital, the Rigshospitale, has called in additional staff, including surgeons and nurses.
Police said in a series of tweets earlier on Sunday that they had sent officers to a major mall field in the capital after receiving reports of the shooting.
He said that since a large number of police were present, he advised the people inside the center to stop and wait for help.
“We have a heavy presence in the Fields and are working on getting an overview,” police tweeted.
Images on social media that could not be immediately verified showed police running into a building and wearing protective gear.
Other footage posted online showed people running in and out of malls, and Denmark’s TV2 broadcaster posted a photo of a man holding on to a stretcher. Witnesses said people were crying and hiding in shops. Several fire tenders were parked outside the mall.
The police have appealed that anyone who has seen, heard or filmed anything, contact him.
“Denmark was hit by a brutal attack on Sunday night. Many were killed. Even more injured. Innocent families shopping or eating out. Children, teenagers and adults,” Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said on Sunday. said in a statement late last night.
“Our beautiful and usually so safe capital was replaced in a second,” she said. “I want to encourage Danes to stand together and support each other during this difficult time.”
Copenhagen Mayor Sophie H. Andersen tweeted: “Horrifying news of field shootings. We don’t yet know for sure how many were injured or killed, but this is very serious.”
Laurits Hermansen told Danish broadcaster DR that he was with his family in a clothing store in the shopping center when he heard “three or four bangs”. Really loud bang. It looked like shots were being fired right next to the shop.”
Other witnesses cited by Danish media said they saw more than 100 people running to exit the mall as the sound of the first shot was heard.
“We saw several people suddenly running towards the exit and then we heard an explosion. Then we ran off the field too,” Thea Schmidt, who was at the mall at the time of the attack, told broadcaster TV2.
Field’s shopping center on the outskirts of the capital has 135 shops, cafes and restaurants.
The mall is right across from a metro line that connects the city center to the international airport. A big highway also runs near the ground.
A concert by British singer Harry Styles, which was due to take place at the Royal Arena less than a mile from the mall, was canceled on Sunday evening despite earlier reports that it would go ahead.
Styles wrote on Snapchat: “My team and I pray for everyone involved in the Copenhagen shopping mall shooting. I’m in shock. Love H.”
Soon after the shooting, the royal palace said that a reception with Crown Prince Frederik associated with the Tour de France cycling race had been cancelled. The first three stages of the race were held in Denmark this year, Palace said in a statement.
The reception was to be held aboard the royal yacht, which is located in Senderborg, the town where the third stage ends.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report