Fire breaks out at historic Old Stock Exchange building in Copenhagen

By Leila Nezirevic

LONDON (AA) - A major fire broke out on Tuesday morning at Denmark’s historic Old Stock Exchange building in central Copenhagen.

Shortly after 8 a.m. (0600GMT), the 400-year-old Stock Exchange building, or Borsen, was entirely engulfed with fire, and its famed central spire collapsed at 8.30 a.m. (0630GMT), local media reported.

Police officers have cordoned off the Knippelsbro and the Christiansborg Slotsplads area, with roads likely to be closed for a long period of time, according to Danish state broadcaster DR.

"It's horrible. It was one of the city's most beautiful buildings. I pass by here every day. It's Notre Dame all over again," a local craftsman Henrik Grage told the broadcaster, referring to the 2019 blaze at the famed Paris cathedral.

The building’s director Brian Mikkelsen together with local residents joined emergency services in an attempt to salvage the Borsen’s art.

"We are met with a terrible sight. The stock market is on fire. We ask everyone to stay away from the area around Slotsholmen," the Danish Chamber of Commerce, which owns the building, posted on X.

The historic building is situated next to Denmark’s parliament the Folketing and Christiansborg, the royal palace.

The Stock Exchange, which featured a spire shaped by the intertwined tails of four dragons, and three crowns symbolizing the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, had been under renovation when the fire broke out.

The Borsen on Slotsholmen dates back to 1625. It was built by King Christian IV and is the oldest building in Copenhagen.