Police quickly arrested a 39-year-old man in connection with the incident.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was taken to the hospital with a minor whiplash injury after a man hit her in central Copenhagen, her office said.
Mr Frederiksen is “safe but shaken” by the incident, the office said, adding that her scheduled engagements on Saturday were cancelled.
Eyewitnesses told Danish media that the 46-year-old prime minister was assaulted on Kultorvet square in the capital’s historic centre on Friday but had been able to walk away from the scene.
Police quickly arrested a 39-year-old man in connection with the incident.
According to local media, the suspect later appeared in a pre-trial custody hearing in a Copenhagen district court.
The man denied that he had anything against Mr Frederiksen, saying she was “a really good prime minister” and that he had been surprised to run into her on the street.
Police investigating the assault do not believe that the attack was politically motivated.
Local media reported that the man was drunk and under the influence of other drugs at the time and that he was a Polish citizen who had been resident in Denmark for a long time. Condemnation poured in from across Europe.
“Shocked to hear about the violence against my friend Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of our ally Denmark. I strongly condemn all violence against our political leaders,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg wrote on the social media platform X.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called it a “despicable act which goes against everything we believe and fight for in Europe.”
“French President Emmanuel Macron denounced it as “unacceptable” and wished the leader a quick recovery. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz posted a get-well message on X.
“Dear Mette, I wish you a speedy recovery,” he said.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak posted on X: “Democracies must be free from intimidation and threats.”
“I strongly condemn any form of violence against democratically elected leaders in our free societies,” Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said.
“An attack on a democratically elected leader is also an attack on our democracy,” wrote Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on X.
The incident comes as the EU’s 27 countries elect more than 700 members of the European Parliament during four days of voting that began on Thursday.
Voters in Denmark would go to the polls on Sunday.
There have been at least two attacks on politicians in Germany in the immediate run-up to the elections.
Earlier, on May 15, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot and seriously injured.
This article had me laughing and learning! For additional insights, check out: EXPLORE NOW. Any thoughts?
buying from online mexican pharmacy: cmq pharma mexican pharmacy – mexico pharmacy
mexico drug stores pharmacies
https://cmqpharma.online/# reputable mexican pharmacies online
mexico pharmacies prescription drugs
http://foruspharma.com/# mexican rx online
canada pharmacy world: canada drugs – legitimate canadian online pharmacies
pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa mexico pharmacy purple pharmacy mexico price list
indian pharmacies safe: reputable indian online pharmacy – best india pharmacy
canadian pharmacy meds: buy canadian drugs – legitimate canadian pharmacy
mexican drugstore online: buying prescription drugs in mexico – pharmacies in mexico that ship to usa
http://indiapharmast.com/# top 10 pharmacies in india
mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa: best online pharmacies in mexico – buying prescription drugs in mexico online
reliable canadian online pharmacy reputable canadian online pharmacies canadian pharmacy uk delivery
best canadian pharmacy to buy from: canadian pharmacy world – canadian pharmacy com
canadian drugs: canadapharmacyonline legit – canadian pharmacy scam
https://canadapharmast.online/# pharmacy canadian superstore
mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa: mexico pharmacy – medication from mexico pharmacy
canadian world pharmacy: safe reliable canadian pharmacy – trusted canadian pharmacy
mexican pharmaceuticals online mexico drug stores pharmacies mexico drug stores pharmacies
safe canadian pharmacy: canada pharmacy – rate canadian pharmacies
http://clomiddelivery.pro/# can i order generic clomid without dr prescription
buy doxycycline medicine: 40mg doxycycline online – doxycycline tablets cost
https://clomiddelivery.pro/# where can i get cheap clomid without dr prescription
buy cipro: ciprofloxacin generic – buy cipro online usa
https://amoxildelivery.pro/# amoxicillin tablets in india
https://doxycyclinedelivery.pro/# doxycycline buy online us
where can i get cheap clomid pill: where can i buy generic clomid now – how to get generic clomid without insurance
http://paxloviddelivery.pro/# paxlovid covid
http://ciprodelivery.pro/# ciprofloxacin mail online
amoxicillin online no prescription: order amoxicillin 500mg – amoxicillin brand name
https://clomiddelivery.pro/# where can i get cheap clomid without dr prescription
paxlovid covid: п»їpaxlovid – paxlovid cost without insurance
https://doxycyclinedelivery.pro/# how to buy doxycycline in uk
https://ciprodelivery.pro/# buy cipro
cipro 500mg best prices: cipro for sale – ciprofloxacin
buy cipro online canada: cipro online no prescription in the usa – buy cipro online usa