Man who attacked Danish PM sentenced to 12 days in detention

COPENHAGEN — A 39-year-old man who attacked Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen on Friday, causing her a neck injury, was sentenced Saturday to 12 days in detention, Danish police said.

The attack took place on Friday in a city center square when a man approached the prime minister and punched her.

Frederiksen's office said the incident left the politician “shocked” and with minor whiplash injuries.

All of the Prime Minister's official events on Saturday have been canceled, her office added on Saturday.

The assault comes two days before Danes go to the polls for the European elections.

A month ago, three German politicians were attacked on the eve of elections to the European Parliament and district councils. Other attacks followed at the start of the week.

Frederiksen, was able to walk away and showed no outward signs of injury after the attack, Soren Kjergaard, a worker at a local cafe, told Reuters after seeing her being escorted away by security.

Copenhagen police said they did not believe the man, who denied any wrongdoing, was politically motivated in his action.

“Since the accused has no connection to Denmark, there is a risk of escape,” the judge of the Copenhagen City Court said as one of the reasons for the custodial sentence, according to the channel television DR.

Several EU leaders condemned the incident, which came just three weeks after Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was seriously injured in an assassination attempt.

“My good Danish friend and colleague Mette Frederiksen was attacked in the street last night in Copenhagen. This is completely unacceptable and constitutes an attack on our open and democratic societies,” Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere told the NTB news agency.

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, wrote on X on Friday:

“I was so shocked by the news of your attack this evening. I condemn this despicable act which goes against everything we believe in and fight for in Europe. I wish you strength and courage – I know you have plenty of both.

Reporting by Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen, Stine Jacobsen and Louise Rasmussen, additional reporting by Gwladys Fouche in Oslo; Editing by Tomasz Janowski