Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen ‘pushed’ in attack in Copenhagen city centre | World news

The attack came two days before Danes go to the polls for the EU elections and just one day after Ms Frederiksen joined other heads of state and government in Normandy to commemorate D-Day.

Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was violently “pushed” by a man in downtown Copenhagen, according to local media.

The Prime Minister’s office said Mette Frederiksen was “shocked” by the incident. She said she was “beaten” during the incident.

A man has since been arrested.

Danish news channel BT reported that two eyewitnesses saw the Prime Minister being pushed “hard” on the shoulder, which caused her to almost fall onto her side.

They added that no word was spoken between the Prime Minister and her alleged attacker.

The prime minister’s office did not provide details and it is unclear whether she was injured in the attack.

Their statement reads: “Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was beaten on Friday evening in Kultorvet in Copenhagen by a man who was subsequently arrested.

“The Prime Minister is shocked by the incident.”

Kultorvet Square is a pedestrian zone in the old town.

At 5 p.m. local time, Ms. Frederiksen and Christel Schaldemose, the Social Democrats’ EU expert, visited a magazine, Danish broadcaster TV2 reported.

The couple separated at around 5:30 p.m. and the attack is said to have occurred 20 minutes later. TV2 has not confirmed this to the authorities.

The attack occurred two days before Danes go to the polls for the European elections. Ms Frederiksen has been on the campaign trail in recent weeks. However, local media said the incident was not related to a campaign event.

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“An attack on our democracy”

Politicians from across Europe have addressed the incident in social media posts.

Danish Environment Minister Magnus Heunicke said on X: “Mette is of course shocked by the attack. I have to say, it shocks all of us who are close to her.”

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she was “deeply shocked”.

“I condemn this despicable act, which goes against everything we believe in and fight for in Europe,” she wrote on X. Turning to the Danish Prime Minister, she continued: “I wish you strength and courage – I know you have both in abundance.”

Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said he “strongly condemns any form of violence against democratically elected leaders of our free societies.”

Swede Ulf Kristersson wrote: “For me, Mette is a very good colleague and wise partner. An attack on a democratically elected politician is also an attack on our democracy.”

On Thursday, Mrs Frederiksen met with other heads of state and government in Normandy, France, to Commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy.

Three weeks ago, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico seriously injured in an assassination attempt.

Last month, while greeting supporters on the street, he was shot five times at point-blank range. A 71-year-old man was arrested at the scene.