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Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has been assaulted in a central Copenhagen sq. in the midst of the European election marketing campaign.
The centre-left premier was “in shock” after the assault on Friday by a person on Kultorvet, one in every of Copenhagen’s essential squares, her workplace stated. Police stated they’d arrested one particular person however declined to remark additional.
Few different particulars had been instantly out there, together with in what circumstances the assault had taken place — throughout a marketing campaign occasion for her Social Democrats or as a part of a personal outing.
“Denmark’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, was as we speak assaulted and hit by a person at Kultorvet in Copenhagen. Mette is of course shocked by the assault. I’ve to say, this shakes all of us who’re near her,” atmosphere minister Magnus Heunicke wrote on social media platform X.
Politicians from throughout Denmark’s political spectrum rushed to sentence the assault.
“Stunning that somebody assaults and hits our prime minister,” stated Morten Løkkegaard, lead candidate within the European elections for the governing centre-right Liberal occasion.
“It’s essential for our democracy that we will debate no matter political place . . . violence and assaults undermine the general public debate and thus our democracy.”
Inger Støjberg, head of the far-right Denmark Democrats, stated: “Democracy is susceptible if we don’t handle it. It’s fully reprehensible to resort to violence.”
Overseas leaders additionally condemned the assault. Ulf Kristersson, Sweden’s centre-right prime minister, stated: “An assault on a democratically elected chief can also be an assault on our democracy. Tonight, my ideas and people of my household are along with her.”
“Tonight’s assault on the Danish prime minister is appalling. Violence has no place in politics. Hold robust, Mette!” stated Roberta Metsola, president of the European parliament.
The assault in opposition to the Danish prime minister is just the newest in a collection of violent acts in opposition to European politicians not too long ago. Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot and significantly wounded final month, whereas a number of politicians in Germany have been assaulted in current weeks.
Neighbouring Sweden has suffered specific political violence over the many years, with prime minister Olof Palme assassinated in 1986 and overseas minister Anna Lindh stabbed to demise in 2003 earlier than a referendum on adopting the euro.
Frederiksen was seen final 12 months as a number one candidate to interchange Jens Stoltenberg as secretary-general of Nato however did not obtain the approval of US President Joe Biden. Extra not too long ago, she has been perceived as a favorite for a number one job in Brussels after this weekend’s elections to the European parliament.
