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UNREST IN STOCKHOLM

FIRE

Minister warns Husby unrest may fuel prejudice

Sweden's Integration Minister Erik Ullenhag warned on Thursday that the unrest in Stockholm's outer suburbs last week may lead to prejudices about the people who live there.

Minister warns Husby unrest may fuel prejudice

Ullenhag shared the message while speaking to a group of around 100 school students in Tensta, one of Husby’s neighbouring districts that was also targeted by vandals last week.

The minister said that the prejudices about the Husby residents will be fueled because the people who don’t know anything about the area will associated it with burning cars.

Ullenhag chose not to venture out to Husby during the week of unrest.

“The people who threw rocks and those who burned cars got enough attention last week. Now it’s all about trying to support the positive trends and to show that we seriously care about those who live in the area,” he told the TT news agency.

One of the students, Mert Yilmaz, pointed out that the car burning was a direct result of the segregation in Sweden.

“It would be better if the refugees who come to Sweden lived in the middle of the city instead, then it wouldn’t have happened,” he said.

But the integration minister stressed that living arrangements can’t be settled in such a manner.

“The problem is that for those who it’s gone well for, they have chosen to move on. We must ensure that we have positive cycles. Why, for example, is there no mosque in Tensta, I think that’s strange,” he said.

TT/The Local/og

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FIRE

Situation ‘unstable’ at Copenhagen’s old stock exchange after fire

Three days after a fire which ravaged Copenhagen's historic former stock exchange broke out, emergency services said Friday that the situation was "unstable" due to equipment issues and a strong breeze.

Situation 'unstable' at Copenhagen's old stock exchange after fire

In the morning, during work to dismantle the scaffolding surrounding the building, a crane’s cutters came loose for as of yet unknown reasons.

It is currently wedged between the scaffolding — put up for the renovation of the historic building that was ongoing — and what remains of the walls.

“It is affecting our efforts”, Tim Ole Simonsen, leader of the operation at the rescue services, told a press conference.

Coupled with the wind picking up, the incident, which has temporarily halted work on dismantling the scaffolding, has made the situation “unstable”.

“The wind is blowing harder and harder, and there are tarps over the scaffolding that can catch the wind,” Simonsen said.

He added that this increases the risks, in particular of further collapse of the burnt-out facade which started collapsing late Thursday afternoon.

Located close to the Christiansborg parliament and seat of government, the Borsen building was commissioned by King Christian IV and built between 1619 and 1640. It was the stock exchange until the 1970s.

The fire began Tuesday morning under the copper roof of the building, which was undergoing renovations ahead of its 400th anniversary.

The cause of the blaze was unknown and Copenhagen police said Wednesday that a major investigation had been launched.

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