Danes Form Human Chain Outside Targeted Copenhagen Synagogue In Show Of Unity

Copenhagen, Denmark — Thousands of people of different faiths have formed a human ring outside the synagogue in Copenhagen where a Jewish security guard was fatally shot last month.

Organizer Niddal El-Jabr says the idea behind the show of unity was to "send a powerful statement" that "Jews should be able to have their religion in peace."

Saturday's gathering was inspired by similar symbolic events in Scandinavia in recent weeks. On Feb. 27, Copenhagen's mayor joined a "ring of peace" on the nearby City Hall square. Police then had banned any events outside the synagogue, citing security.

On Feb. 15, Omar El-Hussein killed Dan Uzan, the synagogue guard, hours after he fatally shot Danish filmmaker Finn Noergaard at a free speech event at another location in Copenhagen.