**Assault on Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen Shocks Nation Amid EU Elections**
In a startling incident that has sent ripples through the political landscape of Denmark and beyond, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was assaulted in Copenhagen, the nation’s capital. The attack, reported by the Danish state news agency Ritzau on Friday, has left the country in shock and sparked a wave of condemnation from political figures across Europe.
Copenhagen police have confirmed the arrest of a suspect following the assault on the square, with an investigation currently underway. Details on how the attack unfolded or the extent of Frederiksen’s injuries, if any, remain scarce. However, the Prime Minister’s office disclosed to DR, the Danish state broadcaster, that Frederiksen was “shocked” by the incident, though no further information was provided.
The assault occurred amidst the European Union parliamentary elections, a period marked by heightened political activity and campaigning. Frederiksen, a member of the Social Democrats, has been actively campaigning alongside the party’s EU lead candidate, Christel Schaldemose. Initial reports suggest that the attack was not related to any campaign event.
The incident has drawn a strong response from political leaders both within Denmark and across Europe. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson expressed his dismay, stating, “an attack on a democratically elected leader is also an attack on our democracy.” Similarly, Charles Michel, president of the European Council, took to the X platform to denounce the assault as a “cowardly act of aggression.”
This attack on Frederiksen is part of a worrying trend of violence against politicians in the lead-up to the EU elections. In Germany, a Social Democrat candidate was seriously injured while campaigning, and in Slovakia, an assassination attempt on Prime Minister Robert Fico has underscored the increasing threats faced by political figures.
As Denmark and the rest of Europe reel from this latest act of violence, the incident underscores the growing concerns over the safety of public officials and the impact of such attacks on the democratic process. The investigation into the assault on Frederiksen continues, with the nation and its European allies watching closely.