A security guard has been named as “Dane of the Year” for protecting shul-goers during the Copenhagen terror attack that cost him his life.
Jewish volunteer Dan Uzan was killed while guarding a synagogue during a batmitzvah at the Central Synagogue in Copenhagen, when it was attacked by a man armed with a machine gun.
The 37 year-old was protecting 80 people who were in the synagogue at the time of the attack in February.
His death was one of two at the hands of Omar el-Hussein, a Danish Palestinian, in an attack that occurred less than a month after the Charlie Hebdo shootings in Paris.
He was awarded the title by the readers of the Danish newspaper, Berlingske, with 25,353 votes cast this year.
The prize is awarded annually to Danes who are considered to have “made the greatest difference in their field”.
The Berlingske Media group said: “Dan Uzan was killed while protecting others, while voluntarily guarding a synagogue while a terror attack took place in the city.
“He was not just protecting the people inside, who were celebrating a [batmitzvah], but also freedom of religion. He paid with his life.”
Danish Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, gave a speech at the ceremony, and paid tribute to the guard.
He said: “Dan was, first and foremost, a genuine everyday hero. He stepped up when he knew he was putting himself at risk.
Also speaking at the ceremony was the hero’s sister, Andrea Uzan. “Dan has now been honoured and recognized for the values he stood for. Not just in Denmark, but also in Europe and elsewhere in the world. This is something that provides a lot of comfort in our grief.”