Gunfire erupts in broad daylight in central Aalborg

Gunshots were fired at a tattoo shop in Aalborg’s city centre on Tuesday afternoon, sending bystanders fleeing and prompting a police lockdown, reports Danish broadcaster DR.

Jeppe Korsholm Mikkelsen, manager of the nearby ice cream shop Guf & Kugler, described hearing four loud bangs at around 1:50 PM while serving customers. “I went outside to see what was happening, and people were running towards us,” he told DR. “A man warned us that shots had been fired and told us to get inside.” Mikkelsen quickly locked and barricaded the door to secure his customers.

The tattoo shop Royal Ink, located steps away from the ice cream parlour, was the reported target of the shooting, according to North Jutland Police. Despite the police cordon, Mikkelsen chose to reopen his shop shortly afterward.

“I’m still in shock,” he admitted. “It’s unbelievable that this could happen in broad daylight with so many people around. It’s tragic.” The incident dominated conversations in the area, with employees—many of them young—visibly shaken.

Police, including armed officers, maintained a heavy presence in the district, blocking off several streets. By 5 PM, authorities held a brief press conference in Bispensgade, where Chief Police Inspector Jesper Bøjgaard acknowledged the challenge ahead: “We face a major task—not only investigating the shooting but also restoring a sense of safety in Aalborg.”

Aalborg Mayor Lasse Frimand Jensen (Social Democrats) echoed concerns about public unease. “This has been the main topic in my conversations with citizens today,” he said. “We deeply regret that this happened and are taking it very seriously.”

Police plan to maintain visibility in the area in the coming days to reassure residents. On Tuesday evening, they released an image of the suspected gunman.