Copenhagen Shooting Urges Harry Styles to Cancel Concert

Another attack on Nordic Europe!

Following a mass shooting in Copenhagen and Denmark, Harry Styles decides to cancel his gig out of respect for the three people who lost their lives, as well as the multiple casualties. The attack happened at Field’s Mall on the outskirts of the capital, less than a mile from the venue where Styles was due to perform.

The distance from the Mall to the Royal Arena (Image from BBC)

The shopping centre is one of the busiest in Northern Europe and has thousands of daily visitors. It boasts 140 shops and restaurants and sits just next to the subway line that connects the mall to the city, which quickly became an escape route for those attempting to flee. An eyewitness, Isabelle, told the Danish media, “Suddenly we hear shots. I think I hear ten shots and then we run through the mall and end up in a toilet, where we huddle together in this tiny toilet, where we are around 11 people.” She continued, “It’s really hot and we wait and we are really scared. It’s been a terrible experience.”

The attack comes as a huge shock to Denmark and Europe, as the country has some of the strictest gun laws on the continent. Licenses to own guns are only permitted for hunting or sports purposes. It came as a shock, then, when an a gunman, who is believed to have mental health issues, opened fire at innocent civilians. The Prime Minister quickly commented on the attack to the devastated public, saying, “our beautiful and usually so safe capital was changed in a split second.” Mette Frederiksen then urged Danes to come together to show support to families of those caught up in the horrors.

Just minutes away, Harry Styles fans were already congregating at the nearby Royal Arena, waiting for the gig that very evening. Many of Harry’s fans were young children and teens who were alone and waiting for the show. After the news broke, worried parents frantically rushed to check up on their children. One concerned father, Hans Christian Stolz recalled, “My daughters were supposed to go see Harry Styles,” he said, to AFD. “They called me to say someone was shooting. They were in a restaurant when it happened.” Hans’ daughter Cassandra, remembered the fear, “We thought at first people were running because they had seen Harry Styles, then we understood that it was people in panic. We ran for our lives.”

The Copenhagen Mall from WION

Upon hearing the news, a distraught Harry Styles decided to prioritise the safety of fans and cancel the show. He took to Snapchat to break the news, “My team and I pray for everyone involved in the Copenhagen shopping mall shooting. I am shocked. Love H.” Live Nation, the organisers of the show also released a statement expressing how the decision was made in accordance with the Danish police, “We are all truly devastated by the events of today and our thoughts are with the victims and their families.” To those disappointed by the news, they said, “We are looking into future possibilities for the show and hope to be able to give ticket buyers direct information as soon as possible.”

This is the first major terror incident since 2015, in which two people were killed and six police officers were injured. Only a few weeks ago in Oslo, a gunman opened fire at Pride, killing two. The attack brought haunting reminders of Behring Brevik’s far-right attacks that killed 77 people in 2011. Communities and governments in the Nordic countries are on alert, hoping that these attacks haven’t triggered more.