A 39-year-old Polish man who assaulted Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen on 7 June 2024 was sentenced to four months in prison on 7 August 2024. The Copenhagen District Court also ordered his deportation and a six-year ban on entering Denmark. Frederiksen suffered a bruised shoulder and minor whiplash.
The attack happened two days before the 2024 European Parliament election and came weeks after the shooting of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. It led to a wider debate in Europe about the safety of politicians who meet the public. Here is what happened, what the court decided and where things stand in 2026.
Quick facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date of assault | 7 June 2024, evening |
| Place | Kultorvet square, central Copenhagen |
| Victim | Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark |
| Attacker | 39-year-old Polish man (not publicly named by Danish authorities) |
| Injuries | Bruised right shoulder, minor whiplash |
| Verdict | 7 August 2024, Copenhagen District Court |
| Sentence | Four months in prison, deportation, six-year entry ban |
What happened in Copenhagen on 7 June 2024
Frederiksen was walking through Kultorvet, a busy square in central Copenhagen, when a man approached and struck her. Witnesses told Danish media that she was shoved hard and stumbled sideways, but she did not fall to the ground. Police arrested the man at the scene.
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She was taken to Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen’s main hospital, for checks. Her office later said she had a bruised right shoulder and a minor whiplash injury to the neck, and that she was otherwise well.
Reports at the time said she had taken a short private break from her Social Democrats’ European election campaign. Police said the attack did not appear to be politically motivated.
Polish man’s assault case: what the court decided
The suspect was a 39-year-old man from Poland. He was held in custody and later charged over the assault. He initially denied the charges.
On 7 August 2024, the Copenhagen District Court found him guilty. He was sentenced to four months in prison, to be followed by deportation from Denmark and a six-year ban on returning. The Associated Press reported that the same case also covered separate offences, including sexual harassment and indecent exposure in public, and a small fraud linked to deposit refunds on bottles and cans.
The AP also reported that prosecutor Anders Larsson had asked for four months, and that the court noted the assault was aggravated because it targeted the prime minister while she was in her official role. According to the AP, the man accepted the verdict and did not appeal.
How leaders reacted
The attack drew quick condemnation across Europe. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called it despicable, and then European Council President Charles Michel said he was outraged. Danish ministers said the attack shook everyone close to her.
A few days later, Frederiksen said she was still shaken, and described it as an attack on the prime minister rather than on her personally.
A wider pattern of attacks on European politicians
The assault came during a tense period before the European elections. Earlier that spring:
- 15 May 2024: Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot several times in the town of Handlova. He survived after surgery and later returned to work.
- May 2024: In Germany, Social Democrat European Parliament candidate Matthias Ecke was beaten while putting up campaign posters in Dresden and needed surgery.
Danish police are not known to have linked the Copenhagen attack to these incidents. But together they led several European governments to review security for politicians on the campaign trail. You can read more world news explainers in our infotainment section.
Timeline of the case
- 7 June 2024: Frederiksen is struck in Kultorvet and taken to Rigshospitalet. Police arrest a 39-year-old Polish man at the scene.
- 8 June 2024: The suspect appears before a judge and is held in custody. Frederiksen’s office confirms her injuries.
- 9 June 2024: Denmark votes in the European Parliament election as planned.
- 7 August 2024: The Copenhagen District Court convicts the man and orders four months in prison, deportation and a six-year entry ban.
- 2026: Frederiksen wins a snap election and forms a new coalition government in June.
Nordic leaders have long been known for moving around their capitals with light security, and that openness was part of why the attack shocked many Danes.
Where Mette Frederiksen is now (2026 update)
Frederiksen has been Denmark’s prime minister since 2019. In March 2026, a snap general election left her Social Democrats as the largest party with 21.9 per cent of the vote and 38 of 179 seats, their weakest result in more than a century, according to Wikipedia’s summary of the results.
Neither the left nor the right bloc won a majority, and coalition talks took more than two months. On 1 June 2026, Frederiksen announced a new government of the Social Democrats, the Socialist People’s Party, the Moderates and the Social Liberals, with herself continuing as prime minister. For more profiles of world leaders, see our people section.
Frequently asked questions
Who attacked the Danish Prime Minister?
A 39-year-old Polish man attacked Mette Frederiksen in Copenhagen’s Kultorvet square on 7 June 2024. Danish authorities did not publicly name him.
What sentence did the attacker get?
Four months in prison, followed by deportation and a six-year ban on entering Denmark, ordered by the Copenhagen District Court on 7 August 2024.
Was Mette Frederiksen badly hurt?
No. She had a bruised right shoulder and minor whiplash and was otherwise in good condition, according to her office.
Was the attack political?
Police said there appeared to be no political motive.
Sources: Wikipedia: Mette Frederiksen, Associated Press: Denmark coverage, The Local: Danish election 2026.
