Copenhagen caf: two gunmen in terror attack at freedom of speech event

As many as 200 bullet holes ripped through the window of the Krudttoenden caf and at least two people were taken away on stretchers, including a uniformed police officer.

The gunmen then fled the area in a dark coloured VW Polo car, according to witnesses. The car was later found in a nearby street but the two gunmen were still at large on Saturday night.

Helle Merete Brix, one of the organisers of the event called Art, Blasphemy And The Freedom Of Expression confirmed that Vilks was at the event but had not been injured.

She said: I saw a masked man running past. A couple of police officers were injured. I clearly consider this as an attack on Lars Vilks.

Niels Ivar Larsen, one of the speakers at the event, said: 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.

In a statement, Danish police said the victim was a 40-year-old who had been attending the event. He had not been identified last night.

Blix was ushered away shortly after the attack by one of the Danish police guards that accompanies him whenever he is in the country.

A police officer is carried into an ambulance after being shot after a public meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark (Lars Ronbog)

In a statement, French President Francois Hollande called the shooting deplorable and said Mrs Thorning-Schmidt would have the full solidarity of France in this trial.

According to Vilkss website, the event was staged to mark the anniversary of the fatwa issued against Salman Rushdie by Irans Ayatollah Khamenei, in 1989, following the publication of the Satanic Verses. As well as Vilks, Inna Chevchenko from the feminist protest group Femen was also due to attend.

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Copenhagen caf: two gunmen in terror attack at freedom of speech event