Denmark's prime minister Mette Frederiksen was assaulted by a man in the capital Copenhagen, the state news agency Ritzau has reported.
Copenhagen police confirmed one person was arrested in the case and an investigation was underway.There was no immediate word on how the assault happened or if Ms Frederiksen was hurt in any way.
The prime minister's office told the Danish state broadcaster DR that she was "shocked" by the incident.
Their statement read: "Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was beaten on Friday evening at Kultorvet in Copenhagen by a man who was subsequently arrested. The Prime Minister is shocked by the incident."
The reports gave no further details and it is unclear in what context the assault occurred and if it was in relation to a political event.It comes just ahead of the EU parliamentary elections on Sunday.
Frederiksen has been campaigning with the Social Democrats' EU lead candidate, Christel Schaldemose. Media reports said the attack was not linked to a campaign event.News of the assault was received with shock and condemnation by politicians across the political spectrum inside the small Scandinavian country and abroad.
EU chief Charles Michel and European Parliament President Roberta Metsola called the attack "appalling".Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said "an attack on a democratically elected leader is also an attack on our democracy," while Charles Michel, president of the European Council, condemned on X what he called a "cowardly act of aggression."
"She seemed a little stressed," Soren Kjergaard, who works as a barista on the square, told Reuters after seeing the prime minister being escorted away.
