Copenhagen shooter was 'smart': classmate

A former classmate of the suspected Copenhagen gunman says she was shocked to see he was involved.

Well wishers reacts as they bring flowers and light candles to honour the shooting victims outside the main Synagogue in Copenhagen, Denmark (ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images)

Well wishers reacts as they bring flowers and light candles to honour the shooting victims outside the main Synagogue in Copenhagen, Denmark (ODD ANDERSEN/AFP/Getty Images)

When Danish media flashed images of the suspected Copenhagen gunman, Julie recognised her "nice and very smart" former classmate Omar El-Hussein, a good Samaritan who a year ago rushed to her aid.

"I am deeply moved and shocked," the 20-year-old told AFP in a telephone interview from Copenhagen.

"I would never have believed the terrorist was a classmate, that it would be a boy who helped me when I was run over outside school," she said.

"When I was run over, he ran to me and helped me get back to school."

But three days later, in late 2013, the young man - who police said had a history of violence and weapons offences - stabbed a passenger on a Copenhagen commuter train and went to jail.

Several Danish media have identified 22-year-old El-Hussein as the gunman behind two fatal shootings in Copenhagen at the weekend who was later shot dead by police.

Julie - who would not reveal her surname - attended the same fast-track high school course for bright students as El-Hussein in a southwest suburb of Copenhagen.

Public broadcaster DR said he was expelled from school after stabbing a 19-year-old man on a train.

"I saw him that day, it was the last time I saw him... I was really shocked, I couldn't believe it," said Julie.

Danish press reports said he was given a two-year jail sentence and was just released two weeks ago.

"At first I considered him to be a good person with a good heart because he had helped me. And then I heard that he had hurt someone - and now this. It's unbelievable," Julie said.


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world