A 39-year-old man has been charged with assaulting Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen (Socialdemokratiet) with a clenched fist on Friday evening at Kultorvet in Copenhagen. Following the incident, Frederiksen was examined at Rigshospitalet, where she was diagnosed with a mild whiplash. The suspected perpetrator was arrested, and on Saturday afternoon, he was officially charged. Unfortunately, this incident is not unique to Danish politicians. Here is an overview of other attacks on politicians since 1998:
– March 24, 1998: Pia Kjærsgaard, former leader of the Danish People’s Party, was attacked and chased by autonomists in Nørrebro. The police had to escort her away in a police van. Pelle Dragsted of the Red-Green Alliance was part of the group that chased her and shouted slogans.
– March 18, 2002: Former Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen (Venstre) was doused with red paint by activist Lars Grenaa from Global Roots in protest against the Iraq war. The action was made possible by Pernille Rosenkrantz-Theil, who was a member of parliament for the Red-Green Alliance at the time and let the assailant in. Rosenkrantz-Theil is now Minister for Social Affairs and Housing for the Social Democrats.
– June 8, 2005: Former Minister for Integration Rikke Hvilshøj’s private home was the target of an arson attack. No one was injured, but the attack was carried out as a protest against Danish refugee policy by a group called “Borderless Beate.”
– January 29, 2014: Rasmus Jarlov (Conservative People’s Party), current member of parliament and former chairman of the Conservatives in Copenhagen, was pushed during a demonstration at Christiansborg Palace Square.
– June 14, 2016: Morten Bødskov (Socialdemokratiet), current Minister of Business, was punched in the face. Bødskov himself announced the incident via a post on Facebook.
– June 1, 2022: Member of Parliament Jan E. Jørgensen (Venstre) was slapped with an open hand at Nørreport Station in connection with the referendum on Denmark’s defense opt-out.
– April 20, 2024: Jacob Mark (Socialist People’s Party), member of parliament, was assaulted during a night out in Roskilde. An argument at a bar escalated, and both Mark and his friend were hit, resulting in a bloody nose for the politician.
These incidents highlight the risks that politicians may face in their work and the importance of security measures around public figures.