US: Copenhagen shooting ‘deplorable’

The Obama administration on Saturday evening described as “deplorable” the shooting at a cafe in Copenhagen that left one person dead earlier in the day.

The statement came from a National Security Council (NSC) spokeswoman, Bernadette Meehan. At around the same time as Meehan was issuing her statement, the Associated Press and other media outlets began reporting a second shooting, near a synagogue in Copenhagen. 

The first shooting occured while a debate about free speech was going on inside the cafe. The event had been organized by Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks, who has previously faced death threats from Islamic radicals outraged by his potrayals of the Prophet Muhammad.

The French ambassador to Denmark, Francois Zimeray, also attended the event.

According to multiple reports, neither Vilks nor Zimeray was injured but another, as-yet-unnamed, 40-year-old man was killed. 

“The United States condemns today’s deplorable shooting in Copenhagen,” said Meehan. 

{mosads}She also offered “condolences to the loved ones of the deceased victim.”

Danish police have said that, in addition to the one fatality, three police officers were shot and wounded in the first attack. 

“Our thoughts are with those wounded in this attack,” Meehan added.

The NSC has maintained close contact with its Danish counterparts and is ready to assist in the investigation if needed, Meehan said.