In a shocking incident, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was assaulted by a man in a central square in Copenhagen on Friday evening, her office confirmed.
The attack, which took place at Kultorvet, resulted in the prompt arrest of the assailant.
According to a statement from the prime minister’s office, Frederiksen was "shocked by the incident" but did not sustain serious injuries.
"Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was hit by a man Friday evening on Kultorvet in Copenhagen. The man was subsequently arrested," the statement read.
Further details about the assailant or his motives were not disclosed.
Witnesses to the incident, Marie Adrian and Anna Ravn, provided their accounts to local newspaper BT.
They reported seeing Frederiksen arrive at the square just before 6:00 pm local time (1600 GMT).
According to them, the attacker approached from the opposite direction and forcefully shoved Frederiksen on the shoulder, causing her to stumble to the side.
They noted that while the push was strong, Frederiksen did not fall to the ground.
After the incident, the prime minister reportedly sat down at a nearby cafe.
The suspect, described by the witnesses as tall and slim, attempted to flee but was quickly apprehended by men in suits who subdued him and held him until police arrived.
The Copenhagen police confirmed the incident, stating, "We have one person arrested in the case, which we are now investigating. At this time, we have no further comments or remarks on the case."
The assault on Frederiksen has drawn swift condemnation from European leaders. European Council President Charles Michel expressed his outrage, stating, "I strongly condemn this cowardly act of aggression."
Similarly, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola urged Frederiksen to "keep strong" and emphasised that "violence has no place in politics."
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, also condemned the attack, describing it as a "despicable act which goes against everything we believe and fight for in Europe."
Her statement, shared on social media, echoed the sentiments of many who see the incident as an affront to democratic values.
This incident follows a disturbing trend of attacks on political figures across Europe.
Recently, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico survived an assassination attempt after being shot four times at close range during an event in Handlova on May 15. Fico underwent two surgeries and is currently recovering.
Danish Environment Minister Magnus Heunicke expressed his dismay over the attack on Frederiksen. "I must say that it shakes all of us who are close to her," he wrote on social media. "Something like this must not happen in our beautiful, safe and free country."
The Danish authorities are conducting a thorough investigation into the incident, and further details are expected as the inquiry progresses.
Follow us
