Odense

From Danish television DR1 January 1st 2009. English translation of the dialogue: And, as mentioned, the conflict had consequences here in Denmark, for it was likely politically motivated that a young man with Middle Eastern background yesterday [December 31st 2008] gunned down two Israelis in Rosengårdscentret in Odense, Denmark. Today [January 1st 2009] Rosengårdscenteret is empty, but yesterday this sales stand was the scene of a violent drama when an armed person suddenly shot and wounded two Israeli salesmen, then escaped in a black Audi. Today, the owner of the Audi turned himself to the police, and after an initial questioning, he was sent to a constitutional questioning, suspected of being the gunman from Rosengårdscentret. It is a man, residential here in Odense [possibly in the Vollsmose ghetto area], he is in his 20s', 27 years to be exact, a citizen of Denmark but of Middle East origin. The police refuses to relate if the man is Palestinian, or if the shooting is connected to the current conflict in the Gaza strip. We are of course aware of what happens around us in the world and in Denmark, but we have no clear motivate for the shooting. In the Vollsmose quarter of Odense, on the other hand, several are telling openly that the shooting yesterday is directly connected to the conflict in Gaza, and that the shooter indeed is Palestinean. "I know the man. I know him really well." "The man who shot, I know the person. The one who shot is Palestinean." From this it would seem that the conflict in Gaza has come to Denmark. "He is one of the first in Denmark to show a really, really large, giant, giant, giant ... You should have seen yesterday, a great party we threw because of this. We really, really hope everyone will support him." "But, I can't explain what he's done in any way, I don't agree with what happened in any way either, but somehow I do understand what happened. One out of several million Palestineans has to react." In a statement, Danish Muslim Union sharply condemns the shootings Wednesday, and encourages citizens who feel powerless and frustrated over the sight of Israeli destruction and killing in Gaza to express their feelings in legal ways, such as demonstrations.