Security guards stopped a knife-wielding man from approaching Finland's prime minister Jyrki Katainen while he was campaigning for municipal elections.
"The man was stopped before he reached the prime minister. He didn't have time to stab him," said government spokesman Kari Mokko.
The incident occurred in Turku, where Mr Katainen was campaigning ahead of Sunday's elections.
Mr Mokko could not give any details on the suspect, but said the prime minister was not hurt.
Robert Seger, a Finnish newspaper photographer who witnessed the incident, said the man dropped to his knees in front of Mr Katainen, holding a knife, but did not attack him.
"He was trying to get Katainen's attention," Mr Seger said.
The government's security chief Timo Harkonen told Finnish broadcaster YLE that the prime minister's security contingent "prevented it from becoming a dangerous situation".
Finnish news agency STT said police apprehended the man, who was behaving in a confused manner.
