Danish prime minister assaulted by man in Copenhagen

Denmark’s prime minister was assaulted by a man in a square in the capital, Copenhagen, the state news agency has reported.

Mette Frederiksen was shocked by the assault, her office said.

She walked away from the attack with security officers and appeared unhurt, a local resident said.

Copenhagen police said a man had been arrested and an investigation was under way.

Ms Frederiksen had been campaigning with the Social Democrats’ EU lead candidate, Christel Schaldemose. Media reports said the attack was not linked to a campaign event.

The prime minister attended D-Day commemorations in Normandy on Thursday.

“Prime minister Mette Frederiksen was hit by a man Friday evening on Kultorvet in Copenhagen. The man was subsequently arrested,” a police statement said.

“She seemed a little stressed,” Soren Kjergaard, who works as a barista on the square, told Reuters after seeing the prime minister being escorted away by security following the assault.

Danes are preparing to vote in EU elections on Sunday.

Latvian prime minister Evika Siliņa posted on social media: “Deeply shocked by the outrageous attack on my colleague and friend, prime minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen.

“All our thoughts are with you and your loved ones. Wishing you a speedy recovery,” she added.

Three weeks ago, Slovakia’s prime minister suffered life-threatening injuries when he was shot in public.

Sweden’s prime minister Ulf Kristersson said “an attack on a democratically elected leader is also an attack on our democracy,” while Charles Michel, president of the European Council, condemned what he called a “cowardly act of aggression”.