Copenhagen, DENMARK – Police arrested three people after an explosion in a corner shop on Istedgade street in Copenhagen last night.
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Police received a report of large bang at 7:37 p.m. Thursday, according to their statement on X.
Yasar Koyuncu owns 1001 Nat Kiosk, the store where the explosion took place.
After an explosion in the window, he ran out of the store, he said, and just after that, the store went up in flames.
There were three people inside, but none were injured, said police.
Thit Aaberg, who works at the bar café Bootleggers, shared what she knew.
Aaberg said there was a very large explosion and the windows buffered. She said she did not think it could have been gas as there was no smell of gas.
Fire began out of the windows, according to Aaberg, and police arrived about five minutes later.
Bootleggers had to evacuate 35 people, including a baby and two young children, according to Aaberg, with everyone being given water, salt and sugar. She said people were checking on each other including those in the apartments.
Aaberg estimated that the fire wasn’t fully put out for about 40 minutes, though she added that time had blurred for her that evening.
Around 11:30 p.m. the police said they were searching for a man in dark clothing who ran away from the scene.
Police arrested three people but as of publication time, it was unclear who would be charged with what crimes. Police did not release information about the people who were arrested except to say that one is a 19-year-old man who is being held until Monday.
Muhammad Alkaaby, owner of a green grocer on Istedgade, said something is wrong though he doesn’t know what happened apart from what he heard and saw.
When he saw the fire and heard the bang, he said he thought it was because the store had a lot of alcohol bottles and fridges inside. He then went back to his shop.
Alkaaby said he heard that two people were running towards Litauens Plads, a nearby square, but did not see it himself.
Noah Haynes is a Correspondent with Youth Journalism International.
