The Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has shared that she is still "not doing great" following an assault in Copenhagen last Friday.
The 46-year-old leader suffered minor whiplash from the incident, which is believed not to have been politically motivated.
A 39-year-old Polish man has been detained on suspicion of assault.
Personal Impact of the Assault
In her first interview since the attack, Frederiksen told Danish broadcaster DR, "I’m not doing great, and I’m not really myself yet."
When asked to describe the assault, the minister stated, "It was very intimidating when someone crosses the last physical limit you have. There is some shock and surprise in that."
She also mentioned the broader context of rising threats and public hostility, noting that threats on social media have worsened, particularly since the war in the Middle East. Public shouting and hostility have also increased, and she felt this incident was perhaps the final straw.
The Prime Minister emphasized that the attack, while personally traumatic, also felt like an assault on the institution she represents.
Frederiksen stated that the violence was not just an attack on her but on the role of the prime minister and, by extension, on the public. She condemned all forms of violence, asserting that it has no place in society.
Frederiksen expressed her wish for a safer Denmark where she could ride her bicycle to work without fear.
Ongoing Investigation
The suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed, is being held in custody until June 20 on preliminary charges of violence against a person in public service.
Preliminary charges in Denmark allow authorities to detain suspects during investigations.
In court, the man reportedly praised Frederiksen as "a really good prime minister," and investigators suspect he was under the influence of drugs and intoxicated at the time of the assault.
Media reports describe the attack occurring just before 6 p.m. on Friday when the man walked toward Frederiksen and pushed her hard, hitting her upper right arm with a clenched fist.
Since the assault, Frederiksen has not appeared in public and missed party events following the European Parliament election results, where her Social Democrats faced losses.
Frederiksen, who became Denmark's youngest-ever prime minister in 2019 and was re-elected in 2022, continues to deal with the aftermath of the attack.
