Police In Iceland Killed A Man For The First Time Ever In 70 Years
A man was shot dead by police in Iceland this morning, reportedly becoming the first person in the country ever to be killed in an armed police operation.
By Sadho Ram — 03 Dec 2013, 03:17 PM — Updated almost 11 years ago
Police in Iceland said Monday they shot dead a gunman, the first time armed police have killed someone in the nation
The small North Atlantic island nation of Iceland has recorded what is believed to be its first fatal police shooting of a civilian.
It was the first-ever armed police operation, officials said. With a population of only 322,000 and one of the lowest crime rates in the world, police rarely draw their weapons in the island nation.
Image via nydailynews.comThe BBC reported that police killed a 59-year-old man who was firing his shotgun out of his apartment in Árbær, a suburb east of Reykjavik, early Monday.
nydailynews.comThe Iceland Review reported that the man had made various threats to his neighbors.
WATCH: The video footage of police investigating the crime scene after the shootout
The police first fired tear gas canisters through the windows of the shooter’s building, but failed to subdue the unidentified 59-year-old man
Police evacuated the other residents of the apartment complex for their safety and fired tear gas canisters through the windows of the shooter’s flat in an attempt to subdue him.
telegraph.co.ukWhen this tactic failed, a team of up to 20 officers entered the building, leading to the fatal shooting.
They were reportedly backed up by members of the country’s Special Forces, two of whom were injured in the episode. The gunman was taken to a hospital, where he died.
The man’s motive for the shooting was unclear and he was thought to be acting alone
The man, who died soon after arriving in hospital, was thought to be alone, police say, and the motive for his action remains unclear.
"Police regret this incident and would like to extend their condolences to the family of the man," Icelandic police chief Haraldur Johannessen told reporters.
The incident was "without precedent" in Iceland's history, national police chief Haraldur Johannessen told a press conference in Reykjavik.
Image via nydailynews.comThe incident was "without precedent" in Iceland, he said.
The police’s conduct in the incident is under investigation and the special forces are being counseled
An investigation has been opened to determine why the victim began shooting and whether he was under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
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A police officer stands guard at a house where a man was shot dead by poilce in Reykjaiík on December 2.
Image via nydailynews.comIceland has one of the lowest crime rates in the world. It’s regular police force is unarmed.
Iceland enjoys a low crime rate -- a unique product of its large, stable middle class and its thorough screening requirements for gun permits, among other elements, per an earlier report by the BBC
Iceland is awash in guns, yet it has one of the lowest violent crime rates in the world.
Image via bbcimg.co.uk
INFOGRAPHIC: Top 10 countries with highest crime rates
USA is the country which has the highest crime rate in the world. It is ranked number 1 in this category. UK is ranked 2 when it comes to the crimes that take place there whereas Germany is another country which has reported a huge number of crimes.
graphs.net
