The assault on Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen comes amid the EU parliamentary elections in Denmark, following recent violent incidents involving European political figures. Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi condemned the attack, expressing his concern on X (formerly Twitter): “Deeply concerned by the news of the attack on Mette Frederiksen, Denmark’s Prime Minister. We condemn the attack. Wishing good health to my friend.”
Details of the incident remain unclear, but local media reported that the assailant approached Frederiksen forcefully and pushed her hard while she was passing Kultorvet Square, a central piazza in Copenhagen. The police arrested a 39-year-old man in connection with the attack. Frederiksen suffered minor whiplash but is otherwise fine, her office confirmed.
The suspect was scheduled for a pre-trial custody hearing at 1100 GMT on Saturday at the Copenhagen District Court in Frederiksberg.
French President Emmanuel Macron also condemned the attack, calling it “unacceptable” and wishing Frederiksen a speedy recovery. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg expressed his shock, and European Council President Charles Michel condemned the act as a “cowardly act of aggression.”
The attack occurred two days before Danes head to the polls in the EU election. Frederiksen has been campaigning with the Social Democrats’ EU lead candidate, Christel Schaldemose. Media reports indicate the attack was not linked to a campaign event.
This incident follows the serious injury of Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico in an assassination attempt three weeks ago, and the attack on a German candidate from the centre-left Social Democrats in May, highlighting a troubling trend of violence against political figures in Europe.
