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PROTESTS

Calls for special police tactics to be available across Sweden

The chairwoman of the Police Association West Region has said that police special tactics, known as Särskild polistaktik or SPT, should be available across Sweden, to use in demonstrations similar to those during the Easter weekend.

Published: 24 April 2022 15:56 CEST
Riot-equipped police pass a barricade at the centre of Ringdansen during the riots in Navestad in Norrköping on Easter day, 2022.
Riot-equipped police pass a barricade at the centre of Ringdansen during the riots in Navestad in Norrköping on Easter day, 2022. The unrest was triggered by the right-wing extremist Rasmus Paludan saying that he will return to Östergötland for new demonstrations during the day. Photo Stefan Jerrevång / TT

SPT, (Särskild polistaktik), is a tactic where the police work with communication rather than physical measures to reduce the risk of conflicts during events like demonstrations.

Tactics include knowledge about how social movements function and how crowds act, as well as understanding how individuals and groups act in a given situation. Police may attempt to engage in collaboration and trust building, which they are specially trained to do.

Katharina von Sydow, chairwoman of the Police Association West Region, told Swedish Radio P4 West that the concept should exist throughout the country.

“We have nothing to defend ourselves within 10 to 15 metres. We need tools to stop this type of violent riot without doing too much damage,” she said.

SPT is used in the West region, the South region and in Stockholm, which doesn’t cover all the places where the Easter weekend riots took place.

In the wake of the riots, police unions and the police’s chief safety representative had a meeting with the National Police Chief, Anders Tornberg, and demanded an evaluation of the police’s work. Katharina von Sydow now hopes that the tactics will be introduced everywhere.

“This concept must exist throughout the country”, she said.

During the Easter weekend around 200 people were involved in riots after a planned demonstration by anti-Muslim Danish politician Rasmus Paludan and his party Stram Kurs (Hard Line), that included the burning of the Muslim holy book, the Koran.

Police revealed on Friday that at least 104 officers were injured in counter-demonstrations that they say were hijacked by criminal gangs intent on targeting the police. 

Forty people were arrested and police are continuing to investigate the violent riots for which they admitted they were unprepared. 

Paludan’s application for another demonstration this weekend was rejected by police.

In Norway on Saturday, police used tear gas against several people during a Koran-burning demonstration after hundreds of counter-demonstrators clashed with police in the town of Sandefjord.

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EUROVISION

Protesters apply to demonstrate for and against Israel at Eurovision in Malmö

Tension is mounting in Malmö after the European Broadcasting Union approved Israel's participation in this year's Eurovision Song Contest.

Published: 12 March 2024 16:02 CET
Protesters apply to demonstrate for and against Israel at Eurovision in Malmö

With less than two months to go until Eurovision gets underway in Malmö, police in the southern Swedish city have already received several permit applications for demonstrations against and in favour of allowing Israel to compete, reports the TT newswire.

The first application would see 10,000 people (according to the organiser’s expectations) march between the Stortorget and Möllevångstorget squares in protest against Israel’s participation.

Another application is for a demonstration outside Malmö Arena, where the Eurovision semi-finals and final will be held. The organiser wants to play Israel’s entry and wave Israeli and Swedish flags.

The third one is for a demonstration outside Malmö Arena against the war in Gaza.

Neither of the demonstrations has yet been approved by police.

In general, the default is to allow protests to go ahead under Sweden’s strong free speech laws, enshrined in the constitution. Demonstration permits may only be denied if there are concrete indications that they could pose a threat to security or public order.

The thousands of people who are expected to descend on Malmö for Eurovision and heightened security in the city during the event could potentially make it harder to organise safe protests.

In addition to that, some areas that would normally be considered public spaces will be used by Malmö City Council for Eurovision fan events, which means protests can’t be held there.

“As far as Malmö City is concerned, it’s not yet clear what’s going to be used as public spaces. We are keen for it to be possible for all demonstrations to be carried out in as safe a way as possible,” police spokesperson Nils Norling told TT, adding that police haven’t ruled out that more permit applications will come as Eurovision draws nearer, or that spontaneous protests will break out.

It is legal to take part in a demonstration without a permit, but the organiser may be fined. Police may break up the protest if it is causing public disorder, security risks or blocking traffic.

The European Broadcasting Union last week gave Israel permission to compete after it rewrote its entry and changed its name to Hurricane.

The previous version, October Rain, was seen as being too political as it made several apparent references to Hamas’ terror attack on Israel on October 7th.

But Israel’s participation has nevertheless sparked controversy following its heavy counter-attack on Gaza.

In Sweden, more than 1,000 musicians, including world-famous artists like Robyn, signed an open letter accusing EBU of hypocrisy in the face of the “humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza.

A major digital sign set up in central Malmö to promote Eurovision, sporting slogans such as “United by music” and “We are one”, was vandalised in the early hours of Monday.

Red paint had been thrown at the sign, alongside the words “Free Gaza”.

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