Danish PM says capital shooting "act of terrorism"

Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt said here Saturday that the shooting in the afternoon was a political assassination, and thus an act of terrorism, according to the Danish news agency Ritazu.

One man was killed and three police officers were wounded at the shooting, which occurred at a cultural center in the capital city's Oesterbro district. French Ambassador to Denmark Francois Zimeray and Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks were among the participants to the meeting at the center, which is under the name of "Art, Blasphemy and Freedom of Expression."

The police said they suspected that the shooting was against Vilks, who has aroused anger in religious circles with a drawing of Prophet Mohammed as a dog.

At a press conference, a Copenhagen police spokesman said that given Vilk's participation, it is very natural to assume that the shooting was a terror attack and it is being investigated as such.

A press release from the Danish Security and Intelligence Agency (PET) said the shooting seemed planned.

"Everything points toward this being planned and the circumstances surrounding the shooting point toward a terror attack," PET said in the press release. Endit