Police begin investigation into attempted murder of free speech advocate
From The Copenhagen Post
While police say they haven't pinpointed a motive, Lars Hedegaard says he knows exactly why he was attacked.
Copenhagen Police said this evening that they were "looking into everything" regarding the failed assassination attempt on outspoken Islam critic Lars Hedegaard. "We have many investigation angles," police inspector Jørgen Skov said at a press briefing. "It could be anything. Lars Hedegaard is a well-known person. There could be a political motive, but we don't know yet."
Hedegaard was at home this morning when he answered his door thinking there was a post delivery. The man at his door held a package and wore a red jacket similar to the ones worn by Post Danmark employees. When Hedegaard opened his door, the suspect pointed a gun at Hedegaard and fired. The shot missed and Hedegaard fought off the attacker and when the suspect's gun jammed, he fled the scene. "I went on the attack and attempted to punch him in the head," Hedegaard told Politiken newspaper hours after the attack.
According to Hedegaard, who is the president of the Free Press Society and has often spoken out against Islam, the motive was clear. "This is after all what one can expect when you attempt to express your opinion in this country," Hedegaard said. "It comes as a surprise that I should be shot at, but apparently I should be."
Police are gathering material from Hedegaard's Frederiksberg residence, including DNA and fingerprints. They have described the suspect as a man around 25 years old, 175-180mm tall with dark hair and dark stubble. He is characterised as looking "southern or maybe Arabic" and speaks Danish without an accent.
Hedegaard’s Free Press Society believes that free speech is “being threatened, primarily by religious and ideological interests and international pressure groups,” and that Islam is the “most dangerous threat at the moment” to free expression.
Posted on 02/06/2013 6:16 AM by Esmerelda Weatherwax
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