Danish prime minister assaulted in central Copenhagen square

{"text":[[{"start":10.3,"text":"Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has been assaulted in a central Copenhagen square in the middle of the European election campaign. "}],[{"start":19.450000000000003,"text":"The centre-left premier was “in shock” after the assault on Friday by a man on Kultorvet, one of Copenhagen’s main squares, her office said. "},{"start":28.579,"text":"A 39-year-old man was arrested shortly afterwards and charged with assault. "}],[{"start":34.7,"text":"Prosecutors said on Saturday that the man, who needed an interpreter in court, used a clenched fist to push Frederiksen. "},{"start":42.592,"text":"He denied the charges. "}],[{"start":45.39,"text":"The Danish prime minister suffered mild whiplash, according to her office, and as a result cancelled her last day of campaigning before Sunday’s elections to the European parliament. "}],[{"start":57.04,"text":"“Denmark’s prime minister, Mette Frederiksen, was today assaulted and hit by a man at Kultorvet in Copenhagen. "},{"start":64.569,"text":"Mette is naturally shocked by the attack. "},{"start":67.624,"text":"I have to say, this shakes all of us who are close to her,” environment minister Magnus Heunicke wrote on social media platform X. "}],[{"start":77.25999999999999,"text":"Politicians from across Denmark’s political spectrum rushed to condemn the attack. "}],[{"start":83.19999999999999,"text":"“Shocking that someone attacks and hits our prime minister,” said Morten Løkkegaard, lead candidate in the European elections for the governing centre-right Liberal party. "}],[{"start":94.13,"text":"“It is crucial for our democracy that we can debate regardless of political position . . . violence and assaults undermine the public debate and thus our democracy. ”"}],[{"start":104.08,"text":"Inger Støjberg, head of the far-right Denmark Democrats, said: “Democracy is vulnerable if we do not take care of it. "},{"start":112.447,"text":"It is completely reprehensible to resort to violence. ”"}],[{"start":116.88,"text":"Foreign leaders also condemned the assault. "},{"start":120.059,"text":"Ulf Kristersson, Sweden’s centre-right prime minister, said: “An attack on a democratically elected leader is also an attack on our democracy. "},{"start":129.714,"text":"Tonight, my thoughts and those of my family are with her. ”"}],[{"start":134.29,"text":"“Tonight’s assault on the Danish prime minister is appalling. "},{"start":138.15699999999998,"text":"Violence has no place in politics. "},{"start":140.887,"text":"Keep strong, Mette!” said Roberta Metsola, president of the European parliament. "}],[{"start":147.73,"text":"The attack is the latest in a series of violent acts against European politicians recently. "},{"start":153.959,"text":"Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot and seriously wounded last month, while several politicians in Germany have been assaulted in recent weeks. "}],[{"start":164.98999999999998,"text":"Neighbouring Sweden has suffered particular political violence over the decades, with prime minister Olof Palme assassinated in 1986 and foreign minister Anna Lindh stabbed to death in 2003 before a referendum on adopting the euro. "}],[{"start":181.02999999999997,"text":"Frederiksen was seen last year as a leading candidate to replace Jens Stoltenberg as secretary-general of Nato but failed to receive the approval of US President Joe Biden. "},{"start":192.35899999999998,"text":"More recently, she has been perceived as a favourite for a leading job in Brussels. "}],[{"start":197.45999999999998,"text":""}]],"url":"https://creatives.ftacademy.cn/album/158197-1717888648.mp3"}