Police arrest one guy and open investigation into incident in Kultorvet sq. that left high minister ‘surprised’.Danish Top Minister Mette Frederiksen was once “hit” by way of a person in central Copenhagen, her administrative center has stated.
The 46-year-old was once “surprised by way of the incident” on Friday night within the capital’s Kultorvet sq., the administrative center stated in a commentary, with out offering additional main points.
“Top Minister Mette Frederiksen was once hit by way of a person Friday night on Kultorvet in Copenhagen. The person was once therefore arrested,” the commentary added, in keeping with AFP information company.
Copenhagen police additionally stated on Friday that one individual have been arrested they usually have been investigating the incident, however didn’t give main points at the suspect’s identification or a possible purpose.
On Saturday, police stated the arrested guy would seem earlier than a pass judgement on who would make a decision if he can be stored in custody.
“This morning, a 39-year-old guy might be introduced earlier than the Copenhagen district courtroom for wondering,” police stated on X, including that the listening to was once anticipated at 1pm (11:00 GMT).
It was once unclear in what context the attack took place, but it surely got here two days earlier than Danes head to the polls to vote in Ecu Union parliamentary elections, which conclude around the bloc on Sunday. Frederiksen has been campaigning with the Social Democrats’ EU lead candidate, Christel Schaldemose. Media studies stated the assault was once no longer related to a marketing campaign match.
‘Robust push’
Two witnesses, Marie Adrian and Anna Ravn, advised newspaper BT that they’d observed Frederiksen arrive on the sq. whilst they have been sitting by way of a close-by fountain simply earlier than 6pm (16:00 GMT).
“A person got here by way of in the wrong way and gave her a difficult shove at the shoulder, inflicting her to fall to the aspect,” the newspaper quoted the ladies as pronouncing.
They added that whilst it was once a “robust push”, Frederiksen didn’t hit the bottom.
Consistent with the witnesses, the high minister then sat down at a close-by cafe. They described the person as tall and narrow, and stated he had attempted to speed away however had no longer gotten some distance earlier than being grabbed and driven to the bottom by way of males in fits.
Every other witness, Kasper Jorgensen, advised newspaper Ekstra Bladet that he had observed the person after he was once tackled to the bottom, pronouncing that one in every of what he presumed to be a part of the protection provider had put a knee at the guy’s again.
“That they had pacified him, and as he lay there, he seemed puzzled and a bit of dazed,” Jorgensen advised the newspaper.
A resident advised Reuters information company Frederiksen was once escorted away by way of safety following the attack.
“She appeared a bit of stressed out,” Soren Kjergaard, who works as a barista at the sq., stated.
‘Despicable act’
Information of the attack was once gained with surprise and condemnation by way of politicians around the political spectrum within Denmark and in another country.
Ecu Council President Charles Michel stated he was once “outraged by way of the attack” whilst Ecu Parliament President Roberta Metsola suggested Frederiksen to “stay robust” whilst including in a submit on X that “violence has no position in politics”.
EU Fee leader Ursula von der Leyen additionally condemned what she referred to as a “despicable act which fits towards the entirety we imagine and combat for in Europe”, in a commentary to social media.
Swedish Top Minister Ulf Kristersson stated that “an assault on a democratically elected chief could also be an assault on our democracy”.
In 2019, Frederiksen become Denmark’s youngest high minister and stored the submit after rising victorious within the 2022 normal election.
“I will have to say that it shakes all folks who’re as regards to her,” Danish Setting Minister Magnus Heunicke stated on social media. “One thing like this will have to no longer occur in our stunning, secure and unfastened nation.”
Violence towards politicians has transform a theme within the run-up to the EU elections. In Would possibly, a candidate from Germany’s Social Democrats was once crushed and critically injured whilst campaigning for a seat within the Ecu Parliament.
In Slovakia, the election marketing campaign was once overshadowed by way of an try to assassinate Top Minister Robert Fico on Would possibly 15, sending shockwaves in the course of the nation and Europe.
