A former Danish gang leader who produced a memoir detailing how he left a life of crime has been fatally shot just a day before his book's release.

Nedim Yasar, 31, was targeted as he left a book launch on Monday in the Danish capital, Copenhagen. The gunman fled the scene on foot, police said.

Yasar was taken to hospital but died of his injuries. His memoir, entitled Roots, was published on Tuesday.

He had reported that he was the victim of an attempted assault last year.

In the incident on Monday, which was reported shortly after 19:30 local time (18:30 GMT), a suspect dressed in dark clothing fired "at least two shots" at Yasar, the Copenhagen Police Department said in a statement.

An investigation is under way and police are "seeking witnesses" to shed light on the matter, the statement added. (BBC)