Mette Frederiksen, the Prime Minister of Denmark, was left “shocked” after an unexpected attack on the streets of Copenhagen, according to her office.
The assault occurred in a central city square where a man approached and struck her. The assailant has since been apprehended.
Ursula von der Leyen, the chief of the European Commission, condemned the incident as a “despicable act” that contradicts the values Europe stands for.
“On Friday evening, at Kultorvet in Copenhagen, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was assaulted by a man who was later arrested. The Prime Minister is taken aback by the incident,” stated the Prime Minister’s office, without providing additional details.
The police confirmed the arrest of a man and are currently investigating the incident, but have not provided further information. The motive behind the attack remains unknown.
Marie Adrian and Anna Ravn, two witnesses, recounted the incident to the local newspaper, BT. They described how a man approached from the opposite direction and forcefully pushed the Prime Minister on the shoulder, causing her to stumble sideways.
While it was a “strong push,” they clarified that the Prime Minister did not fall to the ground. Following the incident, she took a seat at a nearby café.
This attack comes just two days before Denmark’s EU election. Earlier, Ms. Frederiksen, the leader of Denmark’s Social Democrats, participated in a European election event alongside her party’s lead candidate, Christel Schaldemose, as reported by Denmark’s TV2.
The Social Democrats, the largest party in Denmark’s coalition government, continue to lead in the polls, despite a significant decline in support in recent months.
