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A man is in custody after an attack DenmarkThe country’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in central Copenhagen on Friday.
It is unclear whether Frederiksen was injured by the attacker. The prime minister’s office said in a statement that Frederiksen was “shocked by the incident,” but did not provide further details.
“Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was hit by a man on Friday evening at Kultorvet in Copenhagen. The man was subsequently detained,” the statement said.
Police in the Danish capital said the incident happened on Kultorvet, a pedestrian square in the center of the city.
“We have made an arrest in the case, which we are now investigating. We have no further comment or observations on the matter at this time,” police told X.
The attack on Frederiksen comes against the backdrop of 450 million citizens in the 27 EU member states I’m going to the polls to elect more than 700 members of the European Parliament.
It also comes just weeks after Slovakia’s Prime Minister, Robert Ficoit was shot in an assassination attemptand against the wave of increasing political violence and threats against candidates, mayors and elected officials in France, Germany and other countries.
Danish leaders from across the political spectrum expressed outrage at the attack.
Pele Dragstedt, a spokesman for the opposition Red-Green Alliance, described the attack as “appalling and completely unacceptable”.
Business Minister Morten Bødskov described the incident as “absolutely insane”, while Morten Messerschmidt, chairman of the anti-immigrant Danish People’s Party, said: “Violence is never OK”.
European leaders also reacted with shock at the news from Denmark.
European Council President Charles Michel said he was “outraged” by the “horrific” attack, adding: “I strongly condemn this cowardly act of aggression.”
Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristerson said: “Mette is a very good colleague and a wise partner. I sincerely hope she is unharmed.
“An attack on a democratically elected leader is also an attack on our democracy. My thoughts and those of the family are with her tonight.
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European Parliament President Roberta Mezzola wrote: “Tonight the attack on the Danish Prime Minister is appalling. Violence has no place in politics. Stay strong, Mete!” she added.
Finland’s Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said he was “deeply shocked by the attack on my colleague”.
“I strongly condemn any form of violence against democratically elected leaders in our free societies. My thoughts are with you and I wish you strength at this difficult time,” he said.
Latvian Prime Minister Evika Silinja also said she was “deeply shocked”.
The Group of Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament said it supported Frederiksen – a Social Democrat – and the Danish people.
“Acts of violence are always an attack on democracy. We will not be intimidated,” the group said.
Stefan Löwen, president of the Party of European Socialists (PES), said that “the whole PES community is with Mette and her family. We condemn this senseless attack. Political violence should have no place in our societies.”
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