Denmark’s historic old stock exchange building in the centre of Copenhagen has been engulfed by fire.
The 17th Century Børsen is one of the city’s oldest buildings and onlookers gasped as its iconic dragon spire tumbled into the street below.
Culture minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt said 400 years of Danish cultural heritage had gone up in flames.
Members of the public rushed to rescue historic paintings and it took hours before the fire was under control.
The building, dating back to 1625, is a stone’s throw from Denmark’s parliament, the Folketing, housed in the old royal palace of Christiansborg castle. Danish media said the nearby square was being evacuated and the main entrance to Christiansborg was closed because of smoke.
The old stock exchange was being renovated and had been shrouded in scaffolding and protective plastic covering.
It currently houses the Danish…
