Denmark’s Prime Minister ‘beaten’ in broad-daylight attack
Denmark’s Prime Minister ‘beaten’ in broad-daylight attack
Reuters
Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was “beaten” during a broad-daylight attack in central Copenhagen.
Officials said the PM was left “shocked by the incident” and that a man had been arrested.
One local resident added that Frederiksen managed to walk away following the assault by the man and that she showed no outward signs of harm.
“Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was beaten on Friday evening at Kultorvet (square, red.) in Copenhagen by a man who was subsequently arrested.
Denmark’s Prime Minister ‘beaten’ in broad-daylight attackReuters“The Prime Minister is shocked by the incident,” her office said in a statement without giving further detail.
Writing on X, Danish police said they had arrested a man and were investigating the incident but declined to give further details.
“She seemed a little stressed,” Soren Kjergaard, who works as a barista on the square, told Reuters after seeing the PM being escorted away by security.
Danish Minister of Environment Magnus Heunicke wrote on X: “Mette is naturally shocked by the attack.
“I must say that it shakes all of us who are close to her.”
Petteri Orpo, the prime minister of Finland, said he was “deeply shocked by the assault”.
“I strongly condemn any form of violence against democratically elected leaders in our free societies,” he continued.
“My thoughts are with you, and I wish you strength during this difficult time.”
Sweden's Ulf Kristersson wrote: “For me, Mette is a very good colleague and wise partner. An attack on a democratically elected leader is also an attack on our democracy.”
Pilne! Podczas #MarszMilczenia w Warszawie @PolskaPolicja udaremniła próbę ataku nożownika!
— Robert Bąkiewicz (@RBakiewicz) June 7, 2024
Zatrzymany chciał zaj***ć mnie 25cm nożem. Właśnie jadę na policję złożyć zeznania. pic.twitter.com/nICQOsLZLl
The assault comes just two days before Danes head to the polls in the EU election.
Not more than 2 hours after the attack on the Danish PM, another assault was reported in Poland.
Robert Bąkiewicz, a member of the Sovereign Poland Party, was attacked by a man wielding a 25cm knife.
He tweeted with an accompanying video following the attack: "In Warsaw, Polish Police foiled an attempted attack by a knifeman!
"The detained person wanted to attack me with a 25cm knife. I'm going to the police to give a statement."
Both attacks follow an assassination attempt on Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico who was left seriously injured in the attack.