Activists remanded for Stockholm unrest
Eight people connected to the left-wing extremist group Antifascist Action (AFA) have been remanded into custody on suspicion of offences in connection with arson attacks in Fittja in Stockholm.
The troubles broke out in Fittja, a predominantly immigrant area of southern Stockholm, earlier in the week with stone-throwing, arson and vandalism blighting the central shopping precinct. The disturbances began on Sunday and culminated on Tuesday night.
The police responded to calls to combat the continued unrest and in the process identified a 26-year-old woman known to be connected to AFA, a militant left-wing anti-fascist organization.
The woman was followed to a nearby apartment and a further eight arrests were made. Police also discovered rocks and other objects in the apartment indicating that the activists intended to target police.
A further person was arrested in connection to the unrest on Tuesday.
AFA deny police claims that the people held in custody had any connection to their organization, a denial made at length on their homepage.
On Saturday eight of those arrested, three women and five men, were remanded into custody.
The 26-year-old woman is suspected of rioting and intended arson, while the others are remanded on suspicion of intended arson.
"My client denies the crimes that she is suspected of," the 26-year-old's counsel Tomas Rothpfeffer told the TT news agency.
He also claimed that the police are wrong in their claims that his client is connected to AFA.
The other two people in custody with face a remand hearing at Södertörn district court on Sunday.
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The troubles broke out in Fittja, a predominantly immigrant area of southern Stockholm, earlier in the week with stone-throwing, arson and vandalism blighting the central shopping precinct. The disturbances began on Sunday and culminated on Tuesday night.
The police responded to calls to combat the continued unrest and in the process identified a 26-year-old woman known to be connected to AFA, a militant left-wing anti-fascist organization.
The woman was followed to a nearby apartment and a further eight arrests were made. Police also discovered rocks and other objects in the apartment indicating that the activists intended to target police.
A further person was arrested in connection to the unrest on Tuesday.
AFA deny police claims that the people held in custody had any connection to their organization, a denial made at length on their homepage.
On Saturday eight of those arrested, three women and five men, were remanded into custody.
The 26-year-old woman is suspected of rioting and intended arson, while the others are remanded on suspicion of intended arson.
"My client denies the crimes that she is suspected of," the 26-year-old's counsel Tomas Rothpfeffer told the TT news agency.
He also claimed that the police are wrong in their claims that his client is connected to AFA.
The other two people in custody with face a remand hearing at Södertörn district court on Sunday.
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