Denmark PM Mette Frederiksen Attacked, One Arrested

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was "hit" by a man on Friday, her office reported.

Frederiksen was shoved by a man while she was in a Copenhagen square. The push caused her to stumble, but she still managed to keep her balance and did not fall. The assailant attempted to flee but was quickly nabbed by security personnel.

"Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was hit by a man Friday evening on Kultorvet in Copenhagen. The man was subsequently arrested," the statement said.

This incident comes in the wake of a similar attack on Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who survived an assassination attempt on May 15. Fico was shot four times at close range while greeting supporters after a government meeting in the town of Handlova. He was rushed to a nearby hospital and underwent two major surgeries.

Eyewitnesses Marie Adrian and Anna Ravn, who were near the scene, reported seeing Frederiksen arrive at the square around 6:00 pm. "A man came by in the opposite direction and gave her a hard shove on the shoulder, causing her to fall to the side," the two told the newspaper.

In response to the attack on Frederiksen, EU leaders expressed their condemnation and support. European Council President Charles Michel and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola both denounced the violence. Metsola urged Frederiksen to "remain strong" and emphasised that violence has no place in politics, while Michel called the assault a cowardly act of aggression.

"I strongly condemn this cowardly act of aggression," the Michel said in a separate post to X.

EU Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen also condemned the attack, describing it as a despicable act that goes against European values and principles.

Copenhagen police confirmed the occurrence of the incident involving Frederiksen but did not release additional details.

"We have one person arrested in the case, which we are now investigating. At this time, we have no further comments or remarks on the case," police said in a statement on X.

"I must say that it shakes all of us who are close to her," Danish Environment Minister Magnus Heunicke said in a post to social media.

"Something like this must not happen in our beautiful, safe and free country," he said.