November 21, 2009
Published: 8 Mar 08 08:35 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/10356/20080308/
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Leaders of the far-right Sweden Democrats live under constant threat of violence, according to new report from the Swedish security service Säpo.
Säpo reports that it receives an average of 4.5 reports per month of cases of threats made to Sweden's district and county councillors.
The threats are systematic, often involve violence, and come from autonomous groups across Sweden.
Media exposure and engagement in controversial issues often increase the incidence of threats, Säpo reports.
"This is a democratic problem as it happens that politicians leave their posts as a result of having received threats," said Säpo analyst Johan Olsson to news agency TT.
Threats are most commonly made via email, letters and on the telephone and typically come from disgruntled citizens.
A male high school teacher in Skövde, western Sweden, has been arrested and charged with a string of sexual offences including child rape. READ »
Liberal party leader Jan Björklund has rallied members during a speech at the party conference in Växjö calling for lower taxes, developments in nuclear power production and for Sweden to adopt the euro as its currency. READ (8 COMMENTS) »
Two sisters are claiming damages from a firm of funeral directors after their father's coffin was plunged ungracefully into a grave by undertakers unsteady on their feet. READ »
Two North Korean diplomats are being held on suspicion of trying to smuggle 230,000 cigarettes from Russia into Sweden. READ (9 COMMENTS) »
Local politicians who previously voiced their disapproval at a move to house asylum seeker children in Vellinge look set to sign an agreement to invite more children to reside in the municipality in the future. READ (15 COMMENTS) »
A Liberal Party proposal to make English language learning obligatory in schools from the first grade has been slammed by members of the Swedish Academy who view it as an "unnecessary reinforcement of the status of English.” READ (47 COMMENTS) »
Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt has announced that Belgian Prime Minister Herman van Rompuy will be the first permanent President of the European Council following negotiations in Brussels on Thursday evening. READ (20 COMMENTS) »
A heavily pregnant young woman was raped in her home on the outskirts of Stockholm late on Thursday afternoon. READ »
Happy name day to me. No, not Blatte Day (yet) »
"Hey all you Elizabeths out there. Today (November 19 if you’re reading another day) is our name day. Happy Elizabeth Day. (Or Elisabeth or Elisabet as you are more likely to be if you are Swedish) So what’s a name day (if you haven’t already clicked on the Wiki link), it’s “a tradition in many countries..." READ »
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