Prime Minister of Denmark attacked in Copenhagen, suspect apprehended

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was the target of an assault by a man on a square in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, according to reports from the state news agency Ritzau. The incident, which occurred on Friday, has sparked shock and condemnation both within Denmark and abroad.

Copenhagen police confirmed that one person was arrested in connection with the assault, and an investigation is currently underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident. While there was no immediate information on how the assault took place or if Frederiksen sustained any injuries, a witness described the Prime Minister as appearing “a little stressed” but showing no outward signs of harm as she was escorted away by security.

The assault on Frederiksen comes at a critical time, just days before the European Union parliamentary elections on Sunday. Frederiksen has been actively campaigning with the Social Democrats’ EU lead candidate, Christel Schaldemose, but reports indicate that the attack was not linked to any campaign event.

Politicians from across the political spectrum, both in Denmark and abroad, have expressed shock and condemnation at the incident. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson emphasized that an attack on a democratically elected leader is an attack on democracy itself, while Charles Michel, president of the European Council, denounced the assault as a “cowardly act of aggression.”

The assault on Frederiksen is part of a disturbing trend of violence against politicians in the lead-up to the EU elections. In May, a candidate from Germany’s Social Democrats was severely beaten while campaigning for a seat in the European Parliament, and in Slovakia, an attempt to assassinate Prime Minister Robert Fico sent shockwaves through the nation and beyond.

As the investigation into the assault on Prime Minister Frederiksen continues, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the challenges and risks faced by political leaders in today’s increasingly polarized and volatile political climate.