COPENHAGEN: Danish authorities mentioned Saturday that an assault on Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, which she mentioned left her “shaken” however “nice”, was not considered politically motivated.
A 39-year-old Polish man, apprehended after hitting the prime minister on Friday night on a Copenhagen sq., was remanded in custody till June 20 after showing earlier than a courtroom within the Danish capital, prosecutor Taruh Sekeroglu advised reporters.
“It’s not our guiding… speculation that there’s a political motive right here. However that’s one thing that the police in fact will examine,” Sekeroglu mentioned.
Sekeroglu mentioned the person was suspected of violence in opposition to a public servant and deemed a flight threat.
In a publish on social media platform Instagram on Saturday night, the top of presidency mentioned she wanted “peace and quiet.”
“I’m saddened and shaken by the incident yesterday, however in any other case I’m nice,” mentioned Frederiksen, 46.
She thanked individuals for the “many, many, many messages of assist and encouragement,” and mentioned she now wanted to be along with her household.
Frederiksen’s workplace advised AFP earlier that she had been taken to a hospital for a check-up after the assault which had prompted a “minor whiplash damage“.
Suspect intoxicated
In the course of the listening to on Saturday, the prosecution introduced a press release from a physician describing the defendant as mentally unbalanced and intoxicated, Danish media reported.
Broadcaster DR mentioned police had described the person, who denied being responsible of against the law, as “most likely each underneath the affect of gear and drunk” when arrested.
The broadcaster additionally reported that whereas in courtroom the prosecutor requested if the person may keep in mind what he was doing between 5:30 pm (1530 GMT) and 5:45 pm the day earlier than.
“To be fully sincere, then no, not a lot,” the person replied, in response to DR.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday joined European leaders in denouncing the assault, labelling it “unacceptable”, in a press release on X.
“I strongly condemn this act and need Mette Frederiksen a speedy restoration,” Macron added.
Two witnesses, Marie Adrian and Anna Ravn, advised newspaper BT they’d seen Frederiksen arrive on the sq. whereas they had been sitting at a close-by fountain, simply earlier than 6:00 pm on Friday.
The newspaper cited the ladies as saying {that a} man gave Frederiksen “a tough shove on the shoulder, inflicting her to fall to the aspect” however not hit the bottom.
It mentioned they described the person as tall and slim and mentioned he had tried to rush away however didn’t get far earlier than being grabbed and pushed to the bottom by males in fits.
‘Shocked’
The assault was broadly condemned by main European politicians, together with EU Fee chief Ursula von der Leyen, who mentioned it was a “despicable act which fits in opposition to every part we consider and battle for in Europe”.
Extraordinary Danes on the streets of Copenhagen had been shocked.
“I used to be simply stunned that was one thing that would occur,” 45-year-old Anna Liljegren advised AFP.
“I am certain she has safety,” she added.
One other Dane, 25-year-old Frederik Bey, advised AFP he thought it was “fairly disturbing that issues like that may occur in Denmark”.
In 2019, Frederiksen turned the nation’s youngest prime minister on the age of 41 and saved the publish after rising victorious within the 2022 common election.
The incident follows a spate of assaults on European politicians from throughout the political spectrum forward of this week’s EU elections.
A number of politicians in Germany have been attacked at work or on the marketing campaign path.
On Could 15, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot 4 occasions at shut vary as he greeted supporters after a authorities assembly.
Fico, who survived the assassination try, underwent two prolonged hospital surgical procedures.
Danes head to the polls for his or her EU vote on Sunday.
A 39-year-old Polish man, apprehended after hitting the prime minister on Friday night on a Copenhagen sq., was remanded in custody till June 20 after showing earlier than a courtroom within the Danish capital, prosecutor Taruh Sekeroglu advised reporters.
“It’s not our guiding… speculation that there’s a political motive right here. However that’s one thing that the police in fact will examine,” Sekeroglu mentioned.
Sekeroglu mentioned the person was suspected of violence in opposition to a public servant and deemed a flight threat.
In a publish on social media platform Instagram on Saturday night, the top of presidency mentioned she wanted “peace and quiet.”
“I’m saddened and shaken by the incident yesterday, however in any other case I’m nice,” mentioned Frederiksen, 46.
She thanked individuals for the “many, many, many messages of assist and encouragement,” and mentioned she now wanted to be along with her household.
Frederiksen’s workplace advised AFP earlier that she had been taken to a hospital for a check-up after the assault which had prompted a “minor whiplash damage“.
Suspect intoxicated
In the course of the listening to on Saturday, the prosecution introduced a press release from a physician describing the defendant as mentally unbalanced and intoxicated, Danish media reported.
Broadcaster DR mentioned police had described the person, who denied being responsible of against the law, as “most likely each underneath the affect of gear and drunk” when arrested.
The broadcaster additionally reported that whereas in courtroom the prosecutor requested if the person may keep in mind what he was doing between 5:30 pm (1530 GMT) and 5:45 pm the day earlier than.
“To be fully sincere, then no, not a lot,” the person replied, in response to DR.
French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday joined European leaders in denouncing the assault, labelling it “unacceptable”, in a press release on X.
“I strongly condemn this act and need Mette Frederiksen a speedy restoration,” Macron added.
Two witnesses, Marie Adrian and Anna Ravn, advised newspaper BT they’d seen Frederiksen arrive on the sq. whereas they had been sitting at a close-by fountain, simply earlier than 6:00 pm on Friday.
The newspaper cited the ladies as saying {that a} man gave Frederiksen “a tough shove on the shoulder, inflicting her to fall to the aspect” however not hit the bottom.
It mentioned they described the person as tall and slim and mentioned he had tried to rush away however didn’t get far earlier than being grabbed and pushed to the bottom by males in fits.
‘Shocked’
The assault was broadly condemned by main European politicians, together with EU Fee chief Ursula von der Leyen, who mentioned it was a “despicable act which fits in opposition to every part we consider and battle for in Europe”.
Extraordinary Danes on the streets of Copenhagen had been shocked.
“I used to be simply stunned that was one thing that would occur,” 45-year-old Anna Liljegren advised AFP.
“I am certain she has safety,” she added.
One other Dane, 25-year-old Frederik Bey, advised AFP he thought it was “fairly disturbing that issues like that may occur in Denmark”.
In 2019, Frederiksen turned the nation’s youngest prime minister on the age of 41 and saved the publish after rising victorious within the 2022 common election.
The incident follows a spate of assaults on European politicians from throughout the political spectrum forward of this week’s EU elections.
A number of politicians in Germany have been attacked at work or on the marketing campaign path.
On Could 15, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot 4 occasions at shut vary as he greeted supporters after a authorities assembly.
Fico, who survived the assassination try, underwent two prolonged hospital surgical procedures.
Danes head to the polls for his or her EU vote on Sunday.
