DENMARK-SHOOTING/FRENCH EMBASSY-NEWSER French and Danes' sadness at attacks is the same - French interior minister

Record ID: 324472

  • Title: DENMARK-SHOOTING/FRENCH EMBASSY-NEWSER French and Danes' sadness at attacks is the same - French interior minister
  • Date: 15th February 2015
  • Summary: COPENHAGEN, DENMARK (FEBRUARY 15, 2015) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** EXTERIOR FRENCH EMBASSY FRENCH FLAG FRENCH AMBASSADOR FRANCOIS ZIMERAY AND FRENCH INTERIOR MINISTER BERNARD CAZENEUVE ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE MEDIA (SOUNDBITE)(French) FRENCH INTERIOR MINISTER BERNARD CAZENEUVE SAYING: "This morning I saw the same sadness I witnessed back in Paris in January in people's terrified eyes. The same sadness, the same dread, the same dignity and the same mediation and the same sorrow. In the face of terrorism we are first and foremost united by feelings like those of important democrats, those attached to democracy, to the values of the founding fathers of the European Union." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE)(French) FRENCH INTERIOR MINISTER BERNARD CAZENEUVE SAYING: "It was just right that we were here this morning and it was desirable because of the depth of our friendship and because of France and Denmark share a common will to fight the terrorism that could hit us here and there in an environment where, I want to reiterate this with gravity and realism, the threat remains at an extremely high level in France and in Europe - as the events that just occurred in Denmark show." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE)(French) FRENCH INTERIOR MINISTER BERNARD CAZENEUVE SAYING: "When we call for more regulation for internet in order to prevent websites and blogs promoting terrorism from brainwashing the most vulnerable citizens in our countries - and doing so efficiently I have to say - this is realistic. We are adapting our strategies in face of a very acute problem and we need to do that with lucidity, and to get ready to face a real threat for a long time." MEDIA (SOUNDBITE)(English) FRENCH INTERIOR MINISTER BERNARD CAZENEUVE SAYING: "We're determined to to face terrorism in Europe and we're organising our policies and intelligence services in order to face these terrific issues and I'm sure that we shall succeed, overcoming terrorism in Europe, by this cooperation inside Europe in order to be stronger than terrorism is in Europe is today." MEDIA NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS
  • Embargoed: 2nd March 2015 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Denmark
  • Country: Denmark
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVAA4CKEEZQT4EVPTXDK0MGUYBN9
  • Story Text: French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve visited Copenhagen on Sunday (February 15) in a show of solidarity with the Danes after two attacks reminiscent of last month's Paris shootings.
    Two people were killed and five police officers were wounded after two attacks, first a cafe holding an event promoting freedom of speech and then at a synagogue.
    In Paris in January, two gunmen killed 12 people at the headquarters of satirical Charlie Hebdo magazine and a third gunman killed four at kosher supermarket.
    Cazeneuve said the Danes' reaction to the events was similar to that of the French in January.
    "This morning I saw the same sadness I witnessed back in Paris in January in people's terrified eyes. The same sadness, the same dread, the same dignity and the same mediation and the same sorrow. In the face of terrorism we are first and foremost united by feelings like those of important democrats, those attached to democracy, to the values of the founding fathers of the European Union," he told a news conference in the French embassy in the Danish capital.
    Cazeneuve said he had to come to Denmark to show solidarity and support to the Danes. He said the "threat remained at an extremely high level in France and Europe".
    "It was just right that we were here this morning and it was desirable because of the depth of our friendship and because of France and Denmark share a common will to fight the terrorism that could hit us here and there in an environment where, I want to reiterate this with gravity and realism, the threat remains at an extremely high level in France and in Europe - as the events that just occurred in Denmark show," he added.
    In a separate development, the German town of Braunschweig cancelled a carnival parade planned for Sunday lunchtime due to a concrete threat of an Islamist attack, police said. The police called on all visitors to refrain from visiting the planned route of the carnival parade and avoid travelling to Braunschweig.
    Cazeneuve said action was needed at a European level.
    He said he wanted to set up Passenger Name Record (or PNR) within the European Union, a database containing the travel details of civilians. He also said he wanted greater regulation for internet.
    "When we call for more regulation for internet in order to prevent websites and blogs promoting terrorism from brainwashing the most vulnerable citizens in our countries - and doing so efficiently I have to say - this is realistic. We are adapting our strategies in face of a very acute problem and we need to do that with lucidity, and to get ready to face a real threat for a long time," he said.
    "We're determined to to face terrorism in Europe and we're organising our policies and intelligence services in order to face these terrific issues and I'm sure that we shall succeed, overcoming terrorism in Europe, by this cooperation inside Europe in order to be stronger than terrorism is in Europe is today," he added.
    He was joined by the French ambassador to Denmark, Francois Zimeray, who had attended the event, entitled "Art, Blasphemy and Freedom of Expression" at the café when shooting started.
    At the event Zimeray had praised Denmark's support for freedom of speech following the assault in Paris in January on the offices of weekly newspaper Charlie Hebdo.
    Witnesses said the envoy had barely finished his introduction when up to 40 shots rang out, outside the venue, as an attacker sprayed the cafe's windows with bullets.
    Security experts said they considered Swedish artist Lars Vilks, the main speaker who has received death threats for depicting the Prophet Mohammad, to have been the target. Vilks escaped unhurt.
    Police shot dead a 22-year-old Danish-born gunman on Sunday morning in Norrebro, an area in Copenhagen not far from the sites of the two attacks, authorities said.
    Danish media widely reported the gunman to be Omar Abdel Hamid El-Hussein. Reuters could not confirm his identity and police declined to comment.
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