Rioting at Linköping Nazi demo
Around 100 people have been arrested after rioting broke out in Linköping during a neo-Nazi demonstration, police have said. One person was charged with intention to assault.
A large group of demonstrators from Anti Fascist Action (AFA) had also gathered in the town, 200 kilometres south of Stockholm, in response to the demonstration.
Riot police have been brought in from Stockholm and regular police from the neighbouring Sörmland and Jönköping counties. It was unclear at the time of writing whether police in Linköping would require further reinforcements.
At 1pm, a march which the National Socialist Front had permission to hold had not been able to start. The neo-Nazis gathered in Borggården where the march was due to start.
"We have a large group of AFA activists 30-40 metres away from them, and we're trying to keep them apart," police spokeswoman Pia Thevselius told TT.
The neo-Nazis have permission to demonstrate, but AFA does not have authorisation.
The 100 or so activists that have been arrested were anti-fascist counter-demonstrators, Thevselius told news agency TT. They were taken by bus to Linköping's police headquarters.
Police in Linköping warned the general public to stay away from the town centre. Several groups, including the National Socialist Front and several left-wing groups have permission to demonstrate. At lunchtime on Saturday the situation was described as very tense.
"It is a very threatening situation now, and we're trying to control it," Thevselius told TT at 12.30.
A policeman was robbed during the riots, Thevselius said. Local paper Östgöta Correspondenten says the policeman was attacked with a knife and his police radio stolen. The paper also says activists threw bottles at the policeman.
Several streets in Linköping have been sealed off.
TT/The Local
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A large group of demonstrators from Anti Fascist Action (AFA) had also gathered in the town, 200 kilometres south of Stockholm, in response to the demonstration.
Riot police have been brought in from Stockholm and regular police from the neighbouring Sörmland and Jönköping counties. It was unclear at the time of writing whether police in Linköping would require further reinforcements.
At 1pm, a march which the National Socialist Front had permission to hold had not been able to start. The neo-Nazis gathered in Borggården where the march was due to start.
"We have a large group of AFA activists 30-40 metres away from them, and we're trying to keep them apart," police spokeswoman Pia Thevselius told TT.
The neo-Nazis have permission to demonstrate, but AFA does not have authorisation.
The 100 or so activists that have been arrested were anti-fascist counter-demonstrators, Thevselius told news agency TT. They were taken by bus to Linköping's police headquarters.
Police in Linköping warned the general public to stay away from the town centre. Several groups, including the National Socialist Front and several left-wing groups have permission to demonstrate. At lunchtime on Saturday the situation was described as very tense.
"It is a very threatening situation now, and we're trying to control it," Thevselius told TT at 12.30.
A policeman was robbed during the riots, Thevselius said. Local paper Östgöta Correspondenten says the policeman was attacked with a knife and his police radio stolen. The paper also says activists threw bottles at the policeman.
Several streets in Linköping have been sealed off.
TT/The Local
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