Danish PM Mette Frederiksen Attacked in Copenhagen
Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, was left shocked and suffering from whiplash after being struck by a man while walking in the center of Copenhagen. The incident occurred in a square in the city’s old town when an unidentified man approached the politician and hit her. The attacker was promptly apprehended, but his motive remains unknown.
European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen condemned the attack, calling it a “despicable act” that goes against European values. This assault on a European leader follows a recent incident in which Slovak PM Robert Fico was shot multiple times but survived after undergoing surgery.
Eyewitnesses Marie Adrian and Anna Ravn recounted the event to local newspaper BT, stating that the man forcefully pushed the prime minister, causing her to stumble but not fall to the ground. Frederiksen’s office confirmed that she was left shocked and with minor whiplash as a result of the attack.
The 39-year-old assailant is scheduled to appear in court on Saturday afternoon in connection with the incident, just days before Denmark heads to the polls for the EU election. Despite the attack, the Social Democrats, led by Mette Frederiksen, remain the leading party in Denmark’s coalition government.
Reacting to the incident, Danish Environment Minister Magnus Heunicke expressed shock and solidarity with the prime minister. European Union leaders, including Charles Michel, also denounced the aggression, with Michel condemning it as a “cowardly act.”
Mette Frederiksen, 46, became Denmark’s prime minister in 2019 and is known for her firm stance, including rejecting former US President Donald Trump’s proposal to purchase Greenland. However, her tenure has not been without controversy, as she faced criticism for the mass culling of minks during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2022.