A fire raged through one of Copenhagen's oldest buildings on Tuesday, causing the collapse of the iconic spire of the 17th-century Old Stock Exchange as passersby rushed to help emergency services save priceless paintings and other valuables. Danish Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt said it was "touching" to see how many people lent their hand "to save art treasures and iconic images from the burning building," the AP reports. One man jumped off his bicycle on his way to work to help.
- Brian Mikkelsen, chief of the Danish Chamber of Commerce, which is headquartered in the Old Stock Exchange, and his staff were seen scrolling through a binder of photos of paintings to be saved. The works were carried to the nearby parliament and Danish National Archives around the corner. "We have been able to rescue a lot," a visibly moved Mikkelsen told reporters. "It is a national disaster." He also took part in saving valuables from the flames, and said they had to use tools including a crowbar to remove them.