Prime Minister designate Narendra Modi on Saturday expressed concern over attack on Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen who was hit by a man in Copenhagen and condemned the incident.
"Deeply concerned by the news of the attack on Mette Frederiksen, Denmark’s Prime Minister. We condemn the attack. Wishing good health to my friend," Modi said in a social media message.
The assault comes amid the European Union(EU)parliamentary polls in Denmark and follows recent violent incidents involving European political figures.
Local media in Denmark reported that the assailant approached Frederiksen forcefully and pushed her hard while she was passing Kultorvet Square, a central piazza in Copenhagen. The police arrested a 39-year-old man in connection with the attack.The Danish prime minister suffered minor injuries but is otherwise fine after the incident, her office confirmed in a statement on Saturday.
The suspect was scheduled to appear in a pre-trial custody hearing at 1100 GMT on Saturday at the Copenhagen District Court in Frederiksberg.
Earlier on Saturday, French President Emmanuel Macron denounced the "unacceptable" attack. "The attack on the Danish Prime Minister is unacceptable," Macron said in a social media message. "I strongly condemn this act and wish Mette Frederiksen a speedy recovery," he added.
Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary-General, said he was shocked to hear what happened to Frederiksen, whom he called a friend. Charles Michel, president of the European Council, condemned on X what he called a “cowardly act of aggression.”
The assault comes two days before Denmark head to the polls in the EU election. Three weeks ago, Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico was seriously injured in an assassination attempt.
The attack on Frederiksen comes amid European Union parliamentary elections, which are underway in Denmark and across the 27-nation bloc. Frederiksen has been campaigning with the Social Democrats' EU lead candidate, Christel Schaldemose, though media reports indicate the attack was not linked to a campaign event.
In May, a German candidate from the centre-left Social Democrats was beaten and seriously injured while campaigning for the European Parliament.
