Copenhagen Gunman due to Be Buried
The gunman who killed two people in twin attacks in Copenhagen nearly a week ago was due to be buried later Friday at a Muslim cemetery despite objections from the Islamic group that owns it.
The group said it had considered denying a request by the parents of 22-year-old Omar El-Hussein -- identified by police as the shooter -- to have him buried in the group's Muslim cemetery, but that its rules did not allow for it.
My concern is over extremist attitudes and actions on both sides," Ahmet Deniz, head of the Islamic Burial Fund's support group told the daily Jyllands-Posten.
"Both from his friends and from young Danish people who perhaps could also riot later," he said.
The ceremony was scheduled to take place at the Islamic Society of Denmark in the Danish capital after Friday prayers and be followed by the burial outside the city.
Two people -- a documentary maker and volunteer security guard at Copenhagen's main mosque -- died in two separate shootings last Saturday and Sunday.
Friday's funeral would be open to the public but anyone attending "must remain silent", Kasem Said Ahmad, who was to conduct the burial ceremony, told Jyllands-Posten.
He rejected media suggestions that a large turnout at the funeral would be a sign of support for the alleged killer.
"It is support for the family, not for him," he said.
"I do not think that anyone is coming to pay homage to him."
Copenhagen police in a statement urged the public to "show the proper respect for a possible procession" in the area but declined to give further details since the ceremony would be of "a private character."
Source: Agence France Presse
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