Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is recuperating from a minor injury following an unexpected assault in the heart of Copenhagen.
The Prime Minister’s office confirmed her safety, albeit she remains understandably disturbed by the ordeal, leading to the cancellation of her planned activities for Saturday.
The incident occurred at the historic Kultorvet square, where the 46-year-old leader was struck but managed to leave the scene on her own.
A 39-year-old man was swiftly apprehended by the police as the alleged assailant.
During his court appearance, the man expressed his respect for Frederiksen, denying any ill will and expressing his astonishment at encountering her.
The police, upon investigation, have ruled out political motives behind the attack, attributing it to the man’s inebriated state and drug influence.
Notably, the man, a long-term Polish resident in Denmark, has no prior history of such behavior.
The assault has drawn widespread condemnation from international leaders. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson have all voiced their denouncement of the violence and extended their support for Frederiksen’s swift recovery.
This unsettling event unfolds amidst the European Parliament elections, with Denmark’s citizens preparing to cast their votes on Sunday.
The assault on Frederiksen adds to a concerning pattern of recent attacks on European politicians, including the grave shooting of Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico earlier in May.
