Denmark’s prime minister Mette Frederiksen ‘pushed’ in attack in central Copenhagen
Denmark’s prime minister Mette Frederiksen was strongly “pushed” by a man in central Copenhagen, according to local media.
The prime minister’s office said Mette Frederiksen was left “shocked” by the incident, during which they say she was “beaten”.
A man has since been arrested.
Danish news outlet BT reports two eyewitnesses saw the prime minster pushed “hard” on the shoulder, causing her to almost fall on her side.
They added there was nothing said between the prime minister and her alleged attacker.
The prime minister’s office has not given details and it is unclear if she has been left injured by the attack.
Their statement read: “Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was beaten on Friday evening at Kultorvet in Copenhagen by a man who was subsequently arrested.
“The prime minister is shocked by the incident.”
Kultorvet square is a pedestrianised area in the city’s Old Town.
At 5pm local time, Ms Frederiksen and Christel Schaldemose, the Social Democrats’ EU lead candid, visited a magazine, according to Danish broadcaster TV2.
The pair parted ways at around 5.30pm and the assault is believed to have happened 20 minutes later. TV2 has not confirmed this with public authorities.
The attack comes two days before Danes head to the polls to vote in the EU elections and Ms Frederiksen has been on the campaign trail in recent weeks – but local media has said the incident was not linked to a campaign event.
More from Sky News:
AK-47 gunman jailed
CCTV shows last sighting of TV doctor
‘An attack on our democracy’
Politicians from across Europe have addressed the incident in posts on social media.
Danish Minister of Environment Magnus Heunicke said on X: “Mette is naturally shocked by the attack. I must say that it shakes all of us who are close to her.”
Ursula von der Leyen, president of the EU Commission, said she was “deeply shocked”.
“I condemn this despicable act, which goes against everything we believe in and fight for in Europe,” she posted on X. Addressing the Danish PM, she continued: “I wish you strength and courage – I know you have plenty of both.”
Follow Sky News on WhatsApp
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Tap here
Petteri Orpo, the prime minister of Finland, said he “strongly condemns any form of violence against democratically elected leaders in our free societies”.
Sweden’s Ulf Kristersson wrote: “For me, Mette is a very good colleague and wise partner. An attack on a democratically elected leader is also an attack on our democracy.”
On Thursday, Ms Frederiksen joined other world leaders in Normandy, France, to commemorate 80 years since the D-Day landings.
Three weeks ago, Slovakia’s prime minister Robert Fico was seriously injured in an assassination attempt.
He was shot five times at point-blank range while greeting supporters in the street last month. A 71-year-old man was arrested at the scene of the attack.