Denmark PM Mette Frederiksen ‘Shocked’ After Being Struck By A Man In Central Copenhagen. Europe is reeling in disbelief after an unknown man attacked Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in the Danish capital Copenhagen’s central square on Friday. The Danish police arrested the accused and are set to present him before the District Court, but haven’t released details about him. This incident comes at a time when Europe is witnessing elections.
An eye witness told the Danish media that the 39-year-old man walked towards Frederiksen and pushed her hard on the shoulder to jostle her to the side. Another witness said the accused was well-dressed and seemed to be part of the prime minister’s protection unit. He was later taken down by a police officer. A man working at a local bar on Kultorvet Square where the incident occurred, said Frederiksen did not appear to have visible injuries on her face.
Denmark’s PM Office, in an official statement, said Frederiksen was shocked by the incident. It highlighted that the prime minister was hit by a man on Friday evening on Kultorvet in Copenhagen, and the accused was arrested.
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European Leaders Condemn Attack on Mette Frederiksen
Danish politicians expressed outrage over the incident, describing it as appalling and completely unacceptable. Morten Bodskov, Business Minister, said it was completely insane.
The European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen expressed shock. She condemned the incident as a despicable act that Europe doesn’t believe in. Von der Leyen wished Frederiksen strength and courage.
Charles Michel, the European Council president, also expressed outrage. Describing the incident as a horrendous attack, he called it out as a cowardly act of aggression. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson highlighted the attack on Demark’s PM as an attack on democracy, while French President Emmanuel Macron called it unacceptable. The attack on Frederiksen comes after an assassination attempt on Slovakia’s Prime Minister last month.
Who is Mette Frederiksen?
Mette Frederiksen, who comes from a very humble background, is the leader of Denmark’s center-left Socialist Democratic party and came to power as prime minister in 2019. In 2023, she was ranked as the #72 powerful woman. She is said to be the youngest prime minister in Denmark’s history.
