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Suspect in Danish PM Assault Claims He Was ‘Too Drunk to Recall’ Incident

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A Polish man has pleaded not guilty to assaulting Denmark’s prime minister, claiming he was too intoxicated to recall the event. The suspect, whose identity is protected by legal restrictions, is on trial in Copenhagen, facing charges of violence against a public servant, along with multiple counts of indecent exposure and fraud from other incidents. He has admitted guilt to some of the charges and could face imprisonment and deportation.

Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen sustained minor neck and shoulder injuries from the incident, which occurred just three weeks after Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico was seriously injured in an assassination attempt.

The 39-year-old defendant recounted in court that he had been having a difficult day when he encountered Ms. Frederiksen in June, just two days prior to the European Parliament elections. “I’m standing face to face with the Prime Minister, then I can’t remember anything else until I am arrested,” he stated, according to AFP.

Ms. Frederiksen, who was struck on the shoulder, managed to leave the scene on her own. She described feeling “shaken” by the event but stated she was “fine.” Following the incident, she went to the hospital for a check-up and subsequently withdrew from the final day of campaigning for the European elections. She will not testify at the trial, but one of her bodyguards provided testimony, stating that the man approached her on a crowded street, said something unintelligible, and then punched her hard on the shoulder.

Ms. Frederiksen, 46, leads the Social Democrats, Denmark’s largest party in the coalition government, and became the youngest prime minister in Danish history when she took office in 2019.

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Suspect charged with attempted murder of Slovak PM Fico

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A 71-year-old man from Levice has been implicated in the attempted murder of Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, who was severely injured in a shooting incident. The suspect, though not officially named, has been widely identified by Slovak reports. If convicted, he could potentially face life imprisonment.

The assailant acted alone, according to Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok, who stated that the suspect had participated in anti-government protests and was discontented with the outcome of the recent presidential election, won by Peter Pellegrini, an ally of Fico.

In the brazen daylight attack, Fico was shot five times at close range, sustaining serious injuries to his stomach and arm. His security detail was caught off guard, and Fico was swiftly taken to a hospital for emergency treatment. Despite the severity of his condition, Fico’s status has stabilized, though he remains in intensive care.

The alleged perpetrator is described as a writer and political activist, with a circulated video purportedly featuring him expressing grievances against the government’s policies, particularly regarding state media. However, the authenticity of the video and its connection to the detained suspect remain unverified.

The shooting has been condemned by Slovak politicians as an assault on democracy, prompting calls for unity and calm. Outgoing President Zuzana Caputova urged political leaders to convene and address the escalating tensions, while President-elect Peter Pellegrini called for a suspension of campaigning ahead of European Parliament elections.

The attack occurred amid parliamentary discussions concerning the government’s proposal to dissolve Slovakia’s public broadcaster RTVS, a move that has sparked widespread public protests in recent weeks. Some officials have attributed the shooting to heightened political rhetoric and hostility perpetuated by both media and opposition parties.

In response to the incident, Deputy Prime Minister Taraba and Interior Minister Estok criticized the opposition and media for allegedly fueling animosity, with concerns raised about the safety of journalists and NGOs in Slovakia.

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McCann suspect in German trial for unrelated sex offences

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Christian Brückner, the prime suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann, recently appeared in a German court for unrelated sex offenses. He faces charges of rape and sexual abuse dating back to between 2000 and 2017 in Portugal. Brückner, who is already serving a seven-year sentence for rape, denies any involvement in Madeleine McCann’s case.

The trial was postponed due to allegations that a lay judge had posted radical views on social media. Brückner has never been formally charged in the McCann case, but German investigators identified him as a suspect in 2020. The charges he currently faces are for offenses unrelated to Madeleine’s disappearance.

Brückner’s lawyer has criticized the charges, but the trial continues in Lower Saxony, Germany. Brückner has a history of convictions in Portugal, including rape and theft. Although initially not closely investigated in Madeleine’s case, Brückner’s connection to it has brought him under scrutiny.

He is currently serving a prison sentence and the outcome of this trial may affect his incarceration beyond his current sentence.

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Hamburg Airport hostage drama ends after 18 hours

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A hostage incident at Hamburg Airport, involving a young child, concluded after 18 hours, as stated by local authorities. On Saturday night, a 35-year-old man breached security and drove onto the airport tarmac with his four-year-old daughter. Parking beneath a plane, he surrendered to the authorities without resistance and was subsequently apprehended. The child was reported to be unharmed, according to the police.

The disruption led to delays in several inbound and outbound flights, although operations have now resumed. At approximately 20:00 local time, the perpetrator fired his weapon into the air and hurled burning bottles from the vehicle, causing a commotion. While it remained unclear if he had explosives, he halted the car close to a fully occupied commercial flight, prompting the safe evacuation of all passengers on board.

Reportedly, the individual’s motive stemmed from disagreement with authorities over custody arrangements, expressing a desire to travel to Turkey with the child. Police spokeswoman Sandra Levgruen shared that he felt his life was in disarray, as per German broadcaster ZDF. Authorities attributed his actions to an “extraordinary psychological state” due to the custody conflicts with his ex-wife. The man had previously faced allegations of kidnapping the child when he took her to Turkey without permission, resulting in an investigation last year. The mother later returned the child to Germany.

Following the incident, Hamburg Mayor Peter Tschentscher extended his support to the mother, child, and their family. Meanwhile, the airport pledged to swiftly restore regular operations, having originally planned 286 flights with around 34,500 passengers for the day.

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French arrests after bomb scares trigger evacuations at airports and Versailles

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A recent spate of bomb threats in France has led to the arrest of 18 individuals, predominantly minors, involved in the disruptive activities. The threats have targeted significant landmarks such as the Palace of Versailles and the Louvre, along with schools, airports, and hospitals.

These incidents follow the recent stabbing of a teacher in Arras. Despite the heightened tension, the authorities maintain that there is no immediate specific threat. The bomb scares have been communicated through phone calls, emails, and a dedicated website.

Justice Minister Éric Dupond-Moretti has warned the culprits of the consequences they will face, as authorities employ various means, including IP addresses and phone numbers, to track them down. Perpetrating a fake bomb threat in France constitutes a punishable offense with potential imprisonment of up to three years and a fine of €45,000 (£39,000).

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