A Social Media Timeline of the Copenhagen Killings · Global Voices
Maria Grabowski

An estimated 30,000 people participated in the memorial for the victims of a recent shooting in Copenhagen, Denmark on February 16, 2015. Photo by Jacob Crawfurd. Copyright Demotix
Denmark woke up to a Monday of mourning after two people were shot dead and the alleged shooter killed in the capital over the weekend. The violence was perceived as unprecedented in Danish territory.
As the world followed online and in media, Danish social media users tweeted and posted about the historic tragedy.
A panel debate on free speech in Copenhagen ended tragically Saturday afternoon, when a gunman fired more than 40 shots from outside the debate venue. Film director Finn Nørgaard, 55, was killed and three police officers were injured.
The debate took place at the Krudttønden cafe in the central Østerbro district. One of the guests — the presumed target — was Swedish artist Lars Vilks, whose cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad have sparked controversy in the past. Some attendees live-tweeted  the shooting.
French Ambassador to Denmark François Zimeray said:
Still alive in the room
— Frankrigs ambassadør (@francedk) February 14, 2015
Femen‘s representative Inna Shevchenko was one of the panelists at the event:
shots during our panel in Copenhagen
— inna shevchenko (@femeninna) February 14, 2015
Immediately after the shooting, a city-wide man hunt was launched, and an hour later the suspected getaway car was located. Still no gunman. Around 8 in the evening, the Copenhagen Police Department released a surveillance photo of a possible suspect via Twitter:
Krudttønden: Fotoefterlysning! Hvem er denne mand? Ring 114. RT gerne. Tak. #politidk http://t.co/q4AS9A8eRR pic.twitter.com/I0hspYBwc5
— Københavns Politi (@KobenhavnPoliti) February 14, 2015
Krudttønden: Photo inquiry! Who is this man? Call 114. RT please. Thank You. #politidk
A Bar Mitzvah celebration was taking place in the heart of Copenhagen in one of the central synagogues. The party ended suddenly and tragically between midnight and 1 a.m. A Jewish guard, 37-year-old Dan Uzan, was shot in the head and killed. Two police officers were also wounded by gunshots, but survived. Once again, the gunman responsible for the crime fled.
#Denmark‘s PM Thorning-Schmidt places flowers in front of synagogue #cphshooting REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer via @euronews pic.twitter.com/z58LasBkQq
— Lotte Leicht (@LotteLeicht1) February 15, 2015
Local media began putting together maps and timelines of the events.
Copenhagen police then tracked down the suspected gunman in a street in the traditionally working-class area of north-west Copenhagen, bordering the Nørrebro district. After an exchange of gunfire, the suspect was shot dead. He was 22 years old and his name was Omar Abdel Hamid El-Hussein. Omar was born in Copenhagen and previously known to authorities for acts of violence and gang-related crimes.
Massive police presence dominated that Sunday in Copenhagen. Police kept searching for evidence and possible affiliates. So far, two men have been charged for possible involvement in the shootings.
A Danish reporter shared a graphic image of the gunman after the suspect had been shot down by police.
Social networks have been on fire with reactions, comments, and statements from locals and across the globe. As expected in such complex issues, there are very different views on what happened and what needs to be done in the aftermath. However, one particular sentiment seems to resonate: to stand together and cherish democracy.
This is one of the images widely shared on social media, originally posted with the caption: “Rest In Peace”.
Picture of today. Lars Krabbes (.@jyllandsposten) flotte foto ses her uden Instagram-beskæring.#cphshooting #politidk pic.twitter.com/nVuLz4IEjl
— Karina O. Dahlgaard (@KarinaDahlgaard) February 15, 2015
Picture of today. Lars Krabbe’s (.@jyllandsposten) great photo is shown here without Instragram-cropping. #cphshooting #policedk
Krudttønden her til morgen. Blomsterhav. #cphshooting pic.twitter.com/NCVimaLqyZ
— J. Saxtorph-Poulsen (@SaxtorphPoulsen) February 16, 2015
Krudttønden this morning. A sea of flowers. #cphshooting
A Danish reporter tweeted from Paris:
The Danish Embassy in Paris just now. Hundreds of people in sympathy with Denmark #cphshooting pic.twitter.com/6PTSD3dcjP
— Rasmus Tantholdt TV2 (@RasmusTantholdt) February 15, 2015
It is estimated that over 30,000 people attended a public commemoration in Copenhagen on Monday night.
Danes hold mass candlelit ceremony in Copenhagen to mourn 2 victims of #cphshooting http://t.co/u5Sza3CGIb pic.twitter.com/KG65GtgbrK
— BBC News (World) (@BBCWorld) febrero 16, 2015