The Danish authorities have announced that Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was assaulted by a man in Copenhagen on Friday evening. The assailant has been detained. According to the Prime Minister’s office, Frederiksen was struck by a man at Kultorvet in Copenhagen, and the incident left her shocked.
The Copenhagen Police confirmed the incident involving the Prime Minister but did not provide further details. They stated on the platform “X” that one person has been arrested and is currently under investigation.
The attack sparked widespread condemnation both within Denmark and internationally. Denmark’s Environment Minister, Magnus Heunicke, expressed on social media that the attack was a shocking event for everyone close to her and that such incidents should not occur in their peaceful and free country.
In Brussels, the President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, described the attack as “disgusting” and emphasized that violence has no place in politics. Charles Michel, President of the European Council, also expressed outrage over the cowardly attack, strongly condemning it on the platform “X”.
The assault occurred as Danish voters were preparing to vote in the European elections on Sunday.
In Denmark, the terrorism threat level has been influenced significantly by international and local events over 2023 and 2024. The Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET) indicated that the Israel-Hamas war and incidents of Quran desecration within Denmark have exacerbated the terrorism threat. This has led to heightened concerns about the potential for radicalization and mobilization, which might prompt spontaneous or premeditated terrorist attacks.
Denmark has been making legislative efforts to curb radical actions that could incite terrorism. For example, in late 2023, the Danish Parliament passed a bill prohibiting the public desecration of the Quran and other sacred texts to prevent actions that could trigger international and local unrest.
