8-6-2024 (COPENHAGEN) In a shocking incident that has sent shockwaves across Denmark, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was physically assaulted by an unidentified man while in central Copenhagen on Friday evening (June 7), her office has confirmed. The assailant was swiftly apprehended by authorities, who have launched an investigation into the disturbing attack.
According to a terse statement released by Frederiksen’s office, the Prime Minister was “beaten on Friday evening at Kultorvet (Red Square) in Copenhagen by a man who was subsequently arrested. The Prime Minister is shocked by the incident.” No further details were provided regarding the nature or severity of the assault.
However, eyewitness accounts paint a harrowing picture of the events that unfolded. Soren Kjergaard, a barista working on the square, recounted the aftermath to Reuters: “She seemed a little stressed,” he said, after witnessing the Prime Minister being swiftly escorted away by her security detail following the assault.
The Copenhagen Police swiftly responded to the incident, taking to the social media platform X to confirm that a man had been arrested in connection with the attack. Authorities, however, refrained from divulging further details, citing the ongoing investigation.
The brazen assault on Denmark’s highest-ranking official has sent shockwaves through the nation, particularly as it comes just two days before Danes head to the polls for the European Union (EU) elections. The timing of the attack has raised concerns about potential political motivations, though authorities have yet to comment on any potential motive.
The incident has drawn comparisons to a similar attack on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who was seriously injured in an assassination attempt just three weeks ago, further heightening concerns about the safety and security of public officials across Europe.
Danish Minister of Environment Magnus Heunicke took to X to express his shock and dismay, stating, “Mette is naturally shocked by the attack. I must say that it shakes all of us who are close to her.”
