Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen Assaulted in Copenhagen; European Leaders Condemn Violence

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was attacked on Friday evening while in central Copenhagen.

Frederiksen was assaulted at Kultorvet, a public square in Copenhagen. Her attacker has been arrested, and the Prime Minister reportedly walked away after the incident, according to her office.

The office confirmed that Frederiksen was “shocked” by the attack but did not provide further details on her condition. Danish police also confirmed the arrest but declined to comment further.

Leaders across Europe have condemned the attack on the 46-year-old Prime Minister. Lithuanian President Edgars Rinkēvičs expressed his dismay on X, stating, “Disturbing news about the attack against Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen tonight. Violence is completely unacceptable in a democratic society.”

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen condemned the attack as a “despicable act which goes against everything we believe and fight for in Europe.” Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said he was “deeply shocked” and condemned any violence against democratically elected leaders.

Belarussian exiled political activist Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya also condemned the incident and sent her best wishes for Frederiksen’s recovery, emphasizing that “acts of violence such as this are direct attacks on democracy itself.”

Eyewitness Søren Kjærgaard, who was working at Kulbar on Friday, said he saw the Prime Minister sitting down with a friend before her security personnel rushed to assist her, as reported by Danish outlet BT. A bar manager told the outlet that Frederiksen looked slightly shaken but showed no visible signs of injury.