Copenhagen shooter was 'smart': classmate

When Danish media flashed images of the suspected Copenhagen gunman, Julie recognised her "nice and very smart" former classmate Omar El-Hussein, a good Samaritan who a year ago rushed to her aid.

"I am deeply moved and shocked," the 20-year-old told AFP in a telephone interview from Copenhagen.

"I would never have believed the terrorist was a classmate, that it would be a boy who helped me when I was run over outside school," she said.

"When I was run over, he ran to me and helped me get back to school."

But three days later, in late 2013, the young man - who police said had a history of violence and weapons offences - stabbed a passenger on a Copenhagen commuter train and went to jail.

Several Danish media have identified 22-year-old El-Hussein as the gunman behind two fatal shootings in Copenhagen at the weekend who was later shot dead by police.

Julie - who would not reveal her surname - attended the same fast-track high school course for bright students as El-Hussein in a southwest suburb of Copenhagen.

Public broadcaster DR said he was expelled from school after stabbing a 19-year-old man on a train.

"I saw him that day, it was the last time I saw him... I was really shocked, I couldn't believe it," said Julie.

Danish press reports said he was given a two-year jail sentence and was just released two weeks ago.

"At first I considered him to be a good person with a good heart because he had helped me. And then I heard that he had hurt someone - and now this. It's unbelievable," Julie said.