Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen diagnosed with whiplash following attack | Global News

Denmark’s Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, was left shaken after being assaulted while walking across one of Copenhagen’s main squares. The incident occurred on Friday when a man approached her and pushed her hard on the shoulder, causing her to be shoved aside. Fortunately, she did not fall down but was left with whiplash from the attack.

The perpetrator, a 39-year-old man, has been arrested by the police. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed his well wishes to Frederiksen, condemning the violence and stating that democracies must be free from intimidation and threats.

Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron also expressed his appall at the assault, emphasizing that violence and intimidation towards politicians should not be tolerated. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, a friend of Frederiksen, was shocked by the incident and reiterated the importance of protecting democratic values.

Leaders from around Europe joined in condemning the attack, with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson stating that an attack on a democratically elected leader is an attack on democracy itself. European Council President Charles Michel called the assault a cowardly act of aggression.

The assault comes at a crucial time as European Union parliamentary elections are underway in Denmark and the rest of the bloc. Despite the incident, Frederiksen, 46, has continued campaigning with the Danish Social Democrats’ EU candidate. The attack was not linked to any campaign event, and Frederiksen cast her advanced vote on Saturday.