Office of Danish Prime Minister Confirms Assault by Man on Copenhagen Street

In a shocking incident, Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, was assaulted while walking in the center of Copenhagen, leaving her with minor whiplash. The attack occurred in a square in the city’s old town when a man approached her and struck her. Fortunately, the assailant was swiftly apprehended, but his motive remains unknown.

European Commission chief, Ursula von der Leyen, condemned the attack, labeling it a “despicable act” that contradicts European values. This assault on a European leader echoes a recent incident involving Slovak PM Robert Fico, who survived a shooting.

Witnesses Marie Adrian and Anna Ravn recounted the assault, stating that the man aggressively shoved the Prime Minister, causing her to stumble but not fall. Frederiksen, visibly shaken, sought refuge in a nearby cafe to recuperate.

The attacker, a 39-year-old man, is scheduled to appear in court in connection with the incident. This attack comes just days before Denmark’s EU election, underscoring the tense political climate. Mette Frederiksen, the leader of Denmark’s Social Democrats, leads the largest party in the coalition government but faces declining public support.

EU officials, including Charles Michel, expressed outrage at the assault, denouncing it as a “cowardly act of aggression.” Mette Frederiksen, who became Prime Minister in 2019 at the age of 46, previously clashed with former US President Donald Trump over Greenland’s potential sale. In 2022, she faced scrutiny over her government’s decision to cull millions of minks during the Covid pandemic.