Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has been left shocked after a horrifying attack in broad daylight in Copenhagen.

According to her office, the attack happened when a man walked up to the Danish leader and hit her. Following the incident, a man has been arrested.

In a statement, her office said: “Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was beaten on Friday evening at Kultorvet in Copenhagen by a man who was subsequently arrested. The Prime Minister is shocked by the incident.” No further details have been given. 

In the aftermath of the attack, politicians across Europe have taken to social media to address the incident.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she was “deeply shocked” by what had happened. 

Writing on X, she said: “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.”

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister of Finland Petteri Orpo said that he “strongly condemns any form of violence against democratically elected leaders in our free societies”. 

The attack on Ms Frederiksen has come just two days before the Danish electorate heads to the polls to vote in this year’s European elections.

In response to the incident, Denmark’s Minister of Environment Magnus Heunuicke also took to social media to express his condemnation of the act.

He said: “Mette is naturally shocked by the attack. I must say that it shakes all of us who are close to her.”

The attack on Ms Frederiksen has come just weeks after Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot several times when he was meeting supporters. Despite the horrifying nature of the attack, the Slovakian PM survived the assassination attempt.