Denmark’s PM ‘shocked’ after being attacked in Copenhagen

Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was attacked in the nation’s capital Copenhagen Friday evening by a man who was subsequently arrested, according to her office. 

“The Prime Minister is shocked by the incident,” her office said, adding she was hit while in a public square in central Copenhagen.

Police confirmed Friday on social platform X that the man was arrested and they are investigating the incident. They did not provide further comment on the situation.  

The attack on Frederiksen occurred just two days before Denmark citizens go to the polls to vote in the EU election. 

Several European politicians condemned the incident. 

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala also said he was “shocked” by the attack and added “violence has no place in politics and must not be normalised!” 

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was “appalled” by the incident. 

“Such acts of violence constitute an attack on democracy itself. They cannot and will not be tolerated,” he said Friday on X. “My thoughts are with @Statsmin.” 

Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot multiple times on May 15. He has since recovered from the attack. In his first public remarks after the attack, he said he “feels no hatred” toward the person who shot him.

Matthias Ecke, a member of Germany’s Social Democratic Party, was beaten up while campaigning in Dresden in early May. 

Danish Minister of Environment Magnus Heunicke said Friday on X that Frederiksen “is naturally shocked by the attack. I must say that it shakes all of us who are close to her.”