Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has been assaulted by a man on Kultorvet in central Copenhagen. The man is arrested.
The Danish government writes in a press release that she is shocked but that they have no further comments. It is not clear if she was injured.
The attack took place near the prime minister’s residence, and a witness tells Ekstrabladet that Mette Frederiksen was at Kultorvet privately.
Earlier on Friday, Social Democrat Frederiksen campaigned with the party’s top candidate Christel Schaldemose ahead of the EU parliamentary elections on Sunday. However, the attack should not have taken place in connection with the campaign, Christel Schaldemose states for Danish TV2.
They both separated at 5:30 p.m. and it is unclear what Mette Frederiksen has done since then.
“Totally unacceptable”
Several Danish politicians condemn the attack.
“You can disagree about politics, but violence is and always will be completely unacceptable. Warm thoughts to Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen who, no matter what, must be allowed to conduct her election campaign without being subjected to violent abuse. Lucky that the perpetrator has now been caught,” writes Peter Skaarup from the bourgeois Danmarksdemokratene.
“Good thoughts to the country’s prime minister – and my good friend. It is completely unacceptable. We have to take care of trust and respect for each other,” writes Pia Olsen Dyhr, chairman of the Socialist People’s Party.
“Every attack on a politician is an attack on our entire democracy,” writes Culture Minister Jakob Engel-Schmidt from the Moderates.
Kristersson (M): Attack on democracy
The attack has also received reactions from the Swedish side.
The Prime Minister writes on the X that it is an attack on democracy.
“For me, Mette is a very good colleague and wise partner. I sincerely hope that she is well preserved. An attack on a democratically elected leader is also an attack on our democracy. Tonight, my thoughts and those of the family are with her,” writes Ulf Kristersson.
“Absolutely terrible. This must be condemned in the strongest terms,” writes Sweden’s Foreign Minister Tobias Billström (M) on X.
“Terrible information from Denmark that Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has been assaulted. That a head of government is attacked two days before an election is an attack on our open and free society. My thoughts are with Mette and Denmark,” writes Magdalena Andersson (S).