Danish government pledges millions to fight terrorism

Denmark's government on Thursday pledged 970 million kroner ($130 million) to strengthen anti-terrorism measures, after two people were killed and five wounded in shootings at a free speech event and a synagogue in Copenhagen over the weekend.

The government started drafting the plans, which include boosting foreign and domestic intelligence gathering, last month after lawmakers demanded a review of anti-terror measures following attacks on satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo and a kosher supermarket in Paris.

Social Democratic Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt said the money will go toward monitoring Danes joining Islamic militant groups abroad, the domestic intelligence agency, and increased IT and analysis capacity.

The government also wants more SWAT team members and bodyguards.

Filmmaker Finn Noergaard, 55, was killed by a single shot from an M95 assault rifle in an attack at the Krudttoenden café Saturday, which was hosting an "art, blasphemy and the freedom of expression" event.

Volunteer security guard Dan Uzan, 37, was shot and killed outside a synagogue hours later. The gunman, identified as Omar Abdel Hamid El-Hussein, 22, was killed in an exchange of gunfire with police while carrying two handguns, police spokesman Joergen Skov said.

Defense Minister Nicolai Wammen said Thursday that the M95 assault rifle that El-Hussein used in the first attack was stolen in late 2013 from the home of a member of Denmark's Home Guard, a volunteer unit.

Authorities believe El-Hussein may have been inspired by the Paris attacks. He had apparently come to admire the Islamic State after being radicalized in prison, although there is no firm evidence that he was acting at the behest of the group, also known as ISIL and ISIS.

The apparent target of the café shooting was Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks, 68, who has endured several attempted attacks and death threats since he depicted the founder of Islam as a dog in 2007. Vilks escaped unharmed after a bodyguard shoved him into the café kitchen when the gunfire erupted.

"Unfortunately I don't think we ever get done (with fighting terror). The threat is changing all the time," Thorning-Schmidt said. After the 9/11 attacks in the USA, Denmark tightened its terror legislation in 2002 and 2006.

The center-right opposition is expected to back the plan.

Contributing: Associated Press