A Polish man accused of punching Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told a Copenhagen court on Tuesday he doesn't recall hitting her because he was under the influence of alcohol.

A Polish man accused of punching Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told a Copenhagen court on Tuesday he doesn't recall hitting her because he was under the influence of alcohol. The suspect, whom Danish authorities have ruled cannot be named in the media, risks prison time and deportation if convicted, with a verdict expected when the trial wraps up on Wednesday. The 39-year-old, who appeared in the Copenhagen district court wearing a T-shirt and jeans, was immediately apprehended after the alleged assault on June 7th in a Copenhagen square. He denied responsibility. Speaking in court, the accused said he remembered coming face-to-face with the prime minister, whom he recognised, but not putting his hand on her. Also Read | Bangladesh Parliament dissolved by president; Hasina's rival Zia 'freed' after years of house arrest "I'm standing face to face with Mrs Prime Minister, (then) I can't remember anything else until I am arrested," he testified. 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. He also said that the day had been "a bad" one for him but did not provide details. Frederiksen, 46, underwent a medical examination afterwards and was diagnosed with a "contusion on her right shoulder and a minor whiplash injury", her office said at the time. 'Hard punch' The man, who has lived in Denmark for five years, has been charged with violence against a public servant for having punched Frederiksen with a "closed fist on the right shoulder", according to the charge sheet. He has also been charged with several counts of indecent exposure and fraud relating to other incidents. After the accused, the court heard testimonies from two of Frederiksen's bodyguards and a friend she was on her way to meet for coffee. One of the bodyguards said there were many people walking in the street when the man approached the prime minister. "He says something incomprehensible to her. As he passes her, he gives her a hard punch with his fist on her shoulder," the bodyguard told the court. Following the testimonies about the attack, the court spent the remainder of the day's proceedings dealing with the other charges. Special prosecutor Anders Larsson also noted at the end of the day that the accused had previously received a number of fines for theft and vandalism. After the incident, Frederiksen said she was "saddened and shaken" and did not take part in the final day of campaigning for the EU parliament elections in June. Speaking a week after the attack, Frederiksen said she had sought professional help. "I have gotten help for the first time in my life," she told Danish television TV2 at a political festival on Denmark's Bornholm island. Frederiksen became Denmark's youngest-ever head of government when she was elected in 2019, aged 41. She won re-election in 2022. Widely condemned Neither the prosecution nor the defence called Frederiksen as a witness during the trial. "It's the prosecution authority's assessment that it is not necessary to call her as a witness," Larsson explained. "This is an expression of our belief that we can bring the case to a conviction without her giving a statement," the prosecutor added. Asked by AFP after the day's proceedings whether a political motive had been ruled out, Larsson said he didn't want to go into the accused's explanation. The accused's lawyer Henrik Karl Nielsen meanwhile said: "We haven't heard anything (in court) today about any political motives." "He has seen a person whom he knows, a well-known person, and something has happened," Nielsen told AFP. Also Read: UK violence: 400 arrested, man assaulted in Belfast 'race hate crime' 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. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Polish man claims 'I can't remember' alleged assault on Danish PM Mette Frederiksen

A 39-year-old man from Poland who attacked Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was remanded in custody for 12 days on Saturday (June 8). He was under the influence of alcohol and drugs at the time and was unaware that the victim was Denmark's prime minister, Reuters news agency reported citing police.

A 39-year-old man from Poland who attacked Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was remanded in custody for 12 days on Saturday (June 8). He was under the influence of alcohol and drugs at the time and was unaware that the victim was Denmark's prime minister, Reuters news agency reported citing police. "There is nothing to indicate a political motive," the man's lawyer told a Copenhagen court on Saturday. The Polish foreign ministry was told by Danish authorities that the man had been staying in Denmark for some time. Speaking to local media, Copenhagen police inspector Triner Moller said, "We see it as a single, spontaneous act, and we do not currently have it as a guiding hypothesis in our investigation that it was a planned attack on the prime minister." The attack On Friday, the man assaulted Prime Minister Frederiksen in a Copenhagen square. The attacker was subsequently arrested by authorities and an investigation was launched, said the police. According to Frederiksen's office, she suffered a minor whiplash injury from the assault. Several European Union (EU) leaders condemned Friday's incident, which happened just three weeks after Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico was seriously injured in an assassination attempt. The incident also happened two days before Danes headed to the polls in the EU elections. 'Saddened and shaken' On Saturday, PM Frederiksen told local media, "Thank you for the many, many, many greetings with support and backing. It's incredibly touching." "I am saddened and shaken by the episode yesterday but am otherwise safe. For once, I need peace. Both for body and soul. I need to be with my family and need to be myself for a bit," Frederiksen added. (With inputs from agencies)

Polish man who attacked Danish PM Frederiksen remanded in 12-day custody

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen suffered a light whiplash injury after she was assaulted by a man in central Copenhagen on Friday, her office said on Saturday (June 8).

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen suffered a light whiplash injury after she was assaulted by a man in central Copenhagen on Friday, her office said on Saturday (June 8). "Apart from that, the Prime Minister is safe and sound, but she is shocked by the incident," the office said in a statement. Frederiksen had been taken to hospital for a check-up following the incident. The office further informed that all official events of Frederiksen had been cancelled for now. The attack On Friday, Prime Minister Frederiksen was attacked by a man in a Copenhagen square. The attacker was subsequently arrested by authorities and an investigation was launched, said the police in a post on X. Also read | Denmark PM Mette Frederiksen attacked in Copenhagen square ahead of EU elections Speaking to the news agency Reuters, a bar manager working at the square said, "Well, I saw the prime minister sitting with a friend at this table and just I think was one minute, two minutes afterwards, four PET (Danish national security and intelligence service) guys showed up, talked about an arrest has been made." "And then she was escorted by the four PETs to someplace around in the middle of the square and then escorted just a way around the corner,” the manager added. The attack on the prime minister came two days before Danes headed to the polls in the European Union (EU) election. Three weeks ago, Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico was seriously injured in an assassination attempt. Several European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, and EU officials condemned the assault. Attacker to appear in court The police said on Saturday that the man arrested for attacking Frederiksen would appear before a judge later in the day who will decide if he will be kept in custody. "This morning, a 39-year-old man will be brought before the Copenhagen district court for questioning," the police said in another post on X, adding, that the hearing was expected to be held at 4.30 pm IST (11.00 GMT) at Frederiksberg in Copenhagen. (With inputs from agencies)

Attack on Denmark PM: Mette Frederiksen suffered light whiplash injury after assault, says her office