Man who attacked Danish PM handed prison term and deportation sentence

“We have found you guilty of having punched the prime minister with a closed fist on the right shoulder,” judge Jacob Scherfig told the 39-year-old at the end of the trial Wednesday.

The man, who has lived in Denmark for five years, will be deported after serving his sentence. In addition he will also banned from re-entering the Scandinavian country for six years.

During the two-day trial, he denied responsibility, saying he remembered coming face-to-face with the prime minister, whom he recognised, but not putting his hand on her.

He said he believed the memory loss was the result of alcohol previously consumed starting to take effect, and the surprise of suddenly coming face-to-face with the prime minister.

Following the announcement of the verdict, the man told the court through his lawyer that he accepted the ruling.

Frederiksen, 46, underwent a medical examination after the incident and was diagnosed with a “contusion on her right shoulder and a minor whiplash injury”, her office said at the time.

The man was convicted of violence against a public servant.

He was also convicted of several counts of indecent exposure and fraud relating to other incidents.

Neither the prosecution nor defence called Frederiksen as a witness during the trial, as the prosecution argued they could present a strong enough case without her testimony.

Frederiksen became Denmark’s youngest-ever head of government when she was elected in 2019, aged 41. She won re-election in 2022.

The attack was widely condemned by leading European politicians, including EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen, who called it a “despicable act which goes against everything we believe and fight for in Europe”.

It followed a spate of assaults on European politicians from across the political spectrum ahead of the European Parliament elections in June.

On May 15th, Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot four times at close range as he greeted supporters after a government meeting.

Several politicians in Germany had been attacked at work or on the campaign trail.

“The (Danish) police have decided to increase controls with Sweden,” Danish Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard told TV2 television.

“Just before the summer break, the Danish parliament adopted… a vast series of measures regarding the gangs which… give police new and better tools to fight organised crime,” he said in a statement published by his ministry.

“Today, we are tightening the screws even further.”

Police controls will be increased on trains crossing the Øresund Strait between the southern Swedish city of Malmö and the Danish capital Copenhagen, the main crossing point between the countries. They will also be increased on the Øresund road bridge linking the two cities, with the use of camera surveillance among other things.

Hummelgaard had earlier ruled out border measures in response to the gang incidents.

Since April, Swedes have been implicated in 25 cases in Denmark linked to organised crime, Hummelgaard told reporters on Thursday.

In recent days, three Swedes — all minors — have been arrested and held in custody following three shootings in Denmark.

Sweden has struggled to contain the rising gang violence in recent years, with shootings and bombings now weekly occurrences across the Scandinavian country.

Other violent incidents linked to Sweden’s gangs have taken place in Norway, Turkey and Iraq in recent months.

The Swedish gang violence was originally linked to control over the drugs market, but has increasingly spread to rivalries and personal vendettas, among other things.

METTE FREDERIKSEN

Man who attacked Danish PM handed prison term and deportation sentence

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