Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen suffered a “mild whiplash“after the attack he was subjected to on Friday in the center of Copenhagen, when a man He gave her a push that made her stagger.although it did not fall to the ground, as reported this Saturday by the government office in a statement.
The text specifies that the prime minister was transferred to the Rigshospitalet hospital on Friday for a check-up after the blow that caused her “mild whiplash”, as reported. EFE.
For the rest, Frederiksen It is in good conditionbut is shaken by the incident, the prime minister’s office has stated.
In addition, the Prime Minister’s planned participation this Saturday in events in Herlev, Rødovre, Roskilde, Holbæk and Slagelse has been cancelled.
According to eyewitnesses told the tabloid BT, a man pushed Frederiksen, who staggered but did not fall to the ground.
The aggressor appears
The alleged attacker, 39, who was arrested immediately after the attack, will go to court this Saturdaythe Police have indicated.
“At the hearing at the Frederiksberg court, the judge will decide whether there are grounds for decree preventive detention against the man who was arrested after the episode, which took place next to Kultorvet Square,” stated in a statement.
The hearing is scheduled to begin at 13 local time (11.00 GMT).
The Danish authorities have not given more details about the attack or its possible motives, although the prime minister’s office had reported yesterday that Frederiksen was “shocked” for what happened.
Attacker motivation
“Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was beaten on Friday night in Kultorvet in Copenhagen by a man who was subsequently arrested. The Prime Minister she is shocked by the incident“, his office reported in a statement without giving further details.
Copenhagen police and Denmark’s national security and intelligence service have confirmed the incident to Reutersbut they have refused to provide more details, so The motivation of the attacker or whether he had a weapon is unknown..
“She seemed a little stressed,” she told Reuters Soren Kjergaard, who works as a waiter in the square, after seeing the prime minister being escorted away by security after the assault. However, it seems that the policy does not present serious wounds.
Danish Environment Minister Magnus Heunicke posted on X: “Mette is naturally shocked by the attack. I must say it shakes all of us who are close to her.”
Support European leaders
Through social networks, many European leaders have shown their support for the prime minister.
Ursula von der Leyenpresident of the European Commission, has condemned “this despicable act which goes against everything we believe in and fight for in Europe” and wished him “strength and courage”.
Dear @Statsmin Mette, I was so shocked at the news of you being assaulted tonight.
I condemn this despicable act which goes against everything we believe and fight for in Europe.
I wish you strength and courage – I know you have plenty of both.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) June 7, 2024
Pedro Sanchez has stated that “Mette Frederiksen is a committed leader, a magnificent person and a great friend” and that “the attack she suffered tonight is a “attack against all of us who believe in a Europe of freedom, tolerance and peace”.
The Italian president, Giorgia Melonihas described the attack as an “intolerable act of violence” and has assured that “it represents a attack at the heart of democratic values”.
More attacks in Europe
The attack on Frederiksen joins an important list of attacks on politicians occurred in Europe in recent months.
The last one occurred this week in Germany. Heinrich Kochfrom the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, was attacked with a knife when he approached a person to reproach him for tearing up a poster of his party.
In mid-May, the Prime Minister of Slovakia, Robert Ficowas admitted to the hospital in serious condition after being shot several times in the street and is still recovering from his wounds.
Although not at that level, Spain is not immune to attacks on politicians either. For example, in April, the PSOE spokesperson in Ponferrada was attacked by a retiree.
Mette Frederiksen, 46, has been head of government since June 2019: the first term, at the head of a center-left coalition; and since December 2022, she has been at the head of a center executive with two right-wing forces.
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