Police fire shots at stolen van driver in Taastrup

Police in Taastrup opened fire on a stolen van after its driver refused to stop and attempted to flee, Copenhagen West Police reported on Thursday.

The man, a Danish citizen in his early 50s, was eventually arrested in a carport following an extensive search. He was taken into custody wearing a forensic suit and will appear in a custody hearing at Glostrup Court on Friday at 11:15, according to Deputy Police Inspector Brian Toftemann.

Officers first noticed the van because it was registered as stolen. When they tried to stop the driver near Taastrup Main Street, he accelerated, prompting police to fire at the vehicle. No one was hit by the gunfire.

Toftemann confirmed shots were fired at the van, not directly at the driver. The Independent Police Complaints Authority has been notified of the incident.

A civilian car and several police patrol vehicles were damaged during the pursuit. Authorities are conducting a large-scale investigation, including technical examinations, ahead of the custody hearing.

Toftemann stated the suspect is known to police but declined to elaborate. He added that the incident is unrelated to recent concerns raised by Høje Taastrup’s mayor about youth groups causing insecurity in Taastrup Main Street.