Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen suffered a light whiplash injury after being assaulted by a man in central Copenhagen, her office announced. The 46-year-old was “shocked by the incident” which occurred on Friday evening in Kultorvet square. Following the assault, Frederiksen was taken to Rigshospitalet for a medical check-up. “The assault caused a minor whiplash injury,” her office stated, adding that she was “otherwise safe but shaken” and that her Saturday schedule had been canceled.
Danish police reported that a 39-year-old man was arrested in connection with the assault and would appear before a judge for preliminary questioning. The context of the assault remains unclear, but it occurred two days before the European Union parliamentary elections, in which Frederiksen had been actively campaigning alongside the Social Democrats’ EU lead candidate, Christel Schaldemose. Media reports suggest the attack was not linked to a campaign event.
Witnesses Marie Adrian and Anna Ravn, who were present at the scene, described seeing Frederiksen arrive at the square just before 6 pm. They recounted that a man approached her and gave her a hard shove on the shoulder, causing her to stumble. While it was a strong push, Frederiksen did not hit the ground. The witnesses noted that the prime minister then sat down at a nearby cafe, and the assailant, described as tall and slim, was quickly subdued by men in suits.
Another witness, Kasper Jorgensen, told Ekstra Bladet newspaper that he saw the assailant being tackled to the ground by what he assumed were security personnel. Jorgensen described one security officer putting a knee on the man’s back to pacify him. Soren Kjergaard, a barista in the area, noted that Frederiksen seemed stressed as she was escorted away by security.
The assault drew widespread condemnation from politicians both within Denmark and internationally. European Council President Charles Michel expressed his outrage, while European Parliament President Roberta Metsola urged Frederiksen to “keep strong,” emphasizing that “violence has no place in politics.” EU Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen also condemned the assault as a “despicable act which goes against everything we believe and fight for in Europe.” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and French President Emmanuel Macron echoed these sentiments, with Macron calling the assault “unacceptable” and wishing Frederiksen a speedy recovery.
Mette Frederiksen, who became Denmark’s youngest prime minister in 2019 and retained her position after winning the 2022 general election, received an outpouring of support from her colleagues. Danish Environment Minister Magnus Heunicke expressed his dismay on social media, stating, “I must say that it shakes all of us who are close to her. Something like this must not happen in our beautiful, safe and free country.”
The incident is part of a troubling trend of violence against politicians ahead of the EU elections. In May, a German Social Democrat candidate was beaten and seriously injured while campaigning for a seat in the European Parliament. Similarly, an attempt to assassinate Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico on May 15 shocked the nation and Europe.
Frederiksen’s assault highlights the growing risks faced by political leaders and the pressing need for enhanced security measures. As Denmark and other European nations prepare for the upcoming elections, the safety of public officials remains a critical concern. The international community continues to stand in solidarity with Frederiksen, condemning the attack and reinforcing the importance of maintaining democratic principles and protecting those who serve in public office.
