Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen sustained a “light whiplash” following an assault by a 39-year-old male in Copenhagen, according to her office.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, who was the victim of an assault in downtown Copenhagen on Friday, has made the decision to cancel her remaining campaign events as voters prepare to cast their ballots in the European Parliament elections.
Frederiksen was subjected to an “assault and beating” by an individual at Kultorvet Square after participating in a rally alongside the lead candidate from her Social Democrats party, Christel Schaldemose. The incident resulted in the Prime Minister sustaining a “light whiplash,” but otherwise she is reported to be “in good condition,” according to her office.
Despite this, Frederiksen has taken the step of canceling events in the municipalities of Herlev and Rodovre within the broader Copenhagen area, as well as in the cities of Roskilde, Holbek, and Slagelse.
Meanwhile, the Copenhagen police have identified the suspect as a 39-year-old Polish man who has been placed in custody until June 20. At a court hearing, the man entered a plea of not guilty. The police have indicated that the individual was likely under the influence of both drugs and alcohol at the time of the attack, which they have characterized as “an isolated, spontaneous act.”
The police have also emphasized that “at present, it is not our guiding hypothesis that the incident was politically motivated.”
The European Parliament election is being held across the European Union between June 6 and 9, with the vote in Denmark scheduled to take place on Sunday. According to Politico’s polling tracker, Frederiksen’s Social Democrats appear to be in the lead.
The assault on Frederiksen follows a similar incident in mid-May, when Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot several times while greeting supporters in the central part of the country. The assailant was apprehended at the scene.
The perpetrator, identified as 71-year-old Juraj C., expressed strong disagreement with certain policies implemented by Fico, including the decision to cease arms shipments to Ukraine. Fico has recently been discharged from the hospital, stating, “It will be a small miracle if I return to work in several weeks.”