Mette Frederiksen, the Danish Prime Minister, was assaulted by a man in the middle of Copenhagen, which has caused shock throughout the kingdom. The incident occurred as Frederiksen was walking through Copenhagen city centre on Friday afternoon when a man approached her and struck her on the shoulder, causing her to lose her balance and suffer mild whiplash. Frederiksen’s office announced that some of her appointments were canceled as a result of the attack, and she expressed gratitude for the support she received.
The background of the assault remains unclear, with the attacker believed to be under the influence of drugs and alcohol. The suspect, a Polish citizen living in Denmark since 2019, denied the crime but admitted recognizing Frederiksen. Despite claiming to have positive feelings towards the Prime Minister, he also stated that he couldn’t recall the specifics of the incident due to mental instability.
The attack on Frederiksen has raised concerns about political discourse in Denmark, where violence against politicians is rare. The incident has prompted reactions from government officials condemning the violence and expressing shock over the incident. The assault on Frederiksen is part of a trend of increasing attacks on politicians in Europe, with motives ranging from personal disagreements to extremist ideologies.
In recent years, there have been cases of individual perpetrators targeting politicians, as well as orchestrated attacks possibly linked to foreign state actors. The rise in such attacks highlights the need for heightened security measures for public officials and underscores the importance of maintaining civil discourse in political debates.