Danish Prime Minister cancels EU vote events after attack
Danish police reported that a 39-year-old man would be brought before the Copenhagen district court for questioning to determine if he should be remanded in custody.
Danish Prime Minister cancels EU vote events after attack
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has cancelled her appointments after suffering a whiplash injury in a street attack that left her “shaken.”
Her office stated that she was taken to a hospital for a check-up following the Friday evening assault in a Copenhagen square.
Frederiksen’s office described the injury as minor, adding that she is “otherwise safe but shaken by the incident.” French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the attack as “unacceptable” and wished Frederiksen a speedy recovery.
Danish police reported that a 39-year-old man would be brought before the Copenhagen district court for questioning to determine if he should be remanded in custody.
The hearing is expected to take place at 1:00 pm (1100 GMT) in Frederiksberg, Copenhagen.
READ ALSO: Danish PM attacked by man in Copenhagen
Witnesses Marie Adrian and Anna Ravn recounted seeing Frederiksen arrive at the square just before 6:00 pm on Friday. A man reportedly gave her a hard shove on the shoulder, causing her to stumble but not fall. The attacker, described as tall and slim, was quickly subdued by security personnel.
EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen also condemned the attack, calling it a “despicable act which goes against everything we believe and fight for in Europe.”
Frederiksen, who became Denmark’s youngest prime minister in 2019 and was re-elected in 2022, cancelled her Saturday schedule following the incident. The attack comes amid a series of assaults on politicians in Europe ahead of the EU elections.