Mohammed Cartoonist Rushed to Hospital, One Dead After Shots Fired in Copenhagen Cafe
Two gunmen, who were allegedly trying to kill Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks, opened fire at a Copenhagen, Denmark cafe, firing at least 30 shots and killing one man Saturday, USAToday reports.
Vilks had received death threats for his cartoons depicting the prophet Mohammed and it appears Saturday's attack was an attempt to kill him.
Vilks was rushed into a separate room at the Krudttønden Cafe in Copenhagen. He was unharmed.
Three police officers were struck by bullets and wounded, Danish TV2 reported. The victim who was killed was a 40-year old man, according to police.
Police said through a statement that the attackers fled in a dark-colored Volkswagen Polo. They shot into the cafe through a window.
Officers on scene at the cafe called the attack an assassination attempt on Vilks.
"I heard someone firing with an automatic weapons and someone shouting. Police returned the fire and I hid behind the bar. I felt surreal, like in a movie," said Niels Ivar Larsen, one of the speakers at the event.
Vilks depiction of Mohammed as a dog in 2007 has led to several attacks and death threats.
One bartender at the cafe told TV2 he did not understand the language the gunmen were speaking.
Helle Merete Brix was one of the event's organizers. She said Vilks hid out in a separate room during the attack and remained calm, even telling jokes.
Brix said the attack was definitely an assassination attempt on Vilks.
Lord Mayor of Copenhagen, Frank Jensen was disturbed by the attack. He called it a "violent crackdown on freedom of expression."
Vilks said he has been invited to less lectures after Islamist militants attacked a satirical magazine in Paris last month, which ended up killing 12.
Vilks has been traveling with bodyguards and believes once he returns to Sweden, his security force will be increased.
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