Slain synagogue guard remembered as ‘amazing guy’

Denmark Chief Rabbi Yair Melchior says Dan Uzan, 37, killed guarding an event at a synagogue in Saturday night’s attack, was an “irreplaceable” member of the community who once lived in Israel.

“He was a person who was always willing to help. An amazing, amazing guy,” says Melchior.

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There are an estimated 6,000 to 7,000 Jews in Denmark, including about 2,000 active members of the Jewish community, which operates its own security patrol that coordinates with police to protect Jewish institutions.

The community had previously asked police for enhanced security, and following last month’s attack on a kosher supermarket in Paris, Denmark police began reevaluating security arrangements, Melchior said.

After an earlier shooting attack at a free-speech event in the city, police beefed up security at the Jewish community building where the event was being held, Melchior said. The gunman who killed Uzan in the attack just after midnight on Sunday also shot and wounded two police officers outside the synagogue.

Uzan’s family is active in Copenhagen’s Jewish community, Melchior says, and Uzan attended Jewish school and joined the community’s security efforts from a young age.

The slain guard was a talented basketball player, received a degree in politics, lived in Israel for a while and learned to speak Hebrew fluently, Melchior said.

Uzan wanted younger community members to replace him in the security detail, Melchior said, but the community pressed him to remain at his post.

— AP