• Sweden edition
National

Swedish ex-Nazi extradited over sign theft

Published: 9 Apr 10 17:36 CET | Print version
Updated: 9 Apr 10 18:14 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/25994/20100409/

Former Swedish neo-Nazi leader Anders Högtröm has been extradited from Sweden to Poland where he is suspected of involvement in the theft of the infamous "Arbeit Macht Frei" sign from the Auschwitz death camp.

Högström, 34, arrived in Warsaw aboard a Polish military aircraft, after which he was transferred by helicopter to Krakow where prosecutors are investigating the case, police said.

Högström was arrested on February 11 over the theft of the "Arbeit Macht Frei" sign from the gate of the notorious World War II death camp set up in Poland by Nazi Germany. The theft was carried out on December 18.

On March 11, a Stockholm court allowed his extradition to Poland to face trial.

Högström in 1994 founded the National Socialist Front, a Swedish neo-Nazi movement he headed for five years before quitting.

He has told Swedish media he was to act as an intermediary to pick up the sign and sell it to a buyer, but claimed that he informed Polish police about the people behind the plot.

Polish police recovered the five-metre (16-foot) metal sign, whose German inscription means "Work Will Set You Free", on December 20. They arrested and charged five Polish men.

The sign, which had been cut into three parts, was returned by investigators to the Auschwitz museum on January 21, less than a week before commemorations for the 65th anniversary of the camp's liberation by Soviet troops.

The sign has long symbolised the horror of the camp where some 1.1 million people -- one million of them Jews -- were victims of Nazi German genocide from 1940 to 1945.

Polish judicial authorities indicted Högström in January and issued an arrest warrant for him on February 2.

AFP/The Local (news@thelocal.se)

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Your comments about this article:

The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.

18:06 April 9, 2010 by "green Swede"
The "NAXIS" one of the most hideous political organisations in world history,c'mon guys it's a headline for christ's sake!
18:37 April 9, 2010 by Nemesis
This is one nazi who will learn that the grass on the other side has teeth.

In jail I hope he works for his freedom.
21:03 April 9, 2010 by Greg in Canada
These neo-nazi guys really are a bunch of looney tunes.
10:16 April 10, 2010 by asteriks
Why I am not surprised it is Swedish who ordered nazi theft? Because:

- government and secret agency spread hate against immigrants with help of media. Institutional racism is very big, immigration office and secret agency are spying immigrants from third world countries but they don't spy foreigners from West who are equal with Swedish.

- south Sweden is so called nazi region, from WWII till today.

- Sweden is consisted from many villages and small cities where people are conservative, it means right wing. Stockholm is big and far away, there is much less hate for immigrants in society but there is still big discrimination realized by institutions.

Summa summarum, Sweden is good for crazy nazi. This man was leader of nazi party 5 years and nobody arrested him? Why Sweden and DK had pictures against Islam but not some other countries who don't rob Muslim countries? What Swedish did to fight against nazi in Sweden? Nothing, they just adapt themselves in situation and they believe in government like ships without brain and government protect interest of corporations and not interest of the people.
13:54 April 10, 2010 by longhin
>What Swedish did to fight against nazi in Sweden?<

First you would have to build pretty big concentration camp for those evil people from small villages and cities outside of Stockholm.
20:57 April 10, 2010 by DAVID T
Whatever happened to innocent until proved guilty? I t was just a sign anyway
07:48 April 11, 2010 by square
DAVID T, what a stupid thing to say. To the families of those who passed under that sign it has allot of meaning. You obviously have no idea.
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Today's headlines
Eurovision - Centre Stage
Eurovision: The final word from Malmö

Eurovision: The final word from Malmö

With two weeks of Euromania done and dusted and with southern Sweden nursing a Eurovision-sized hangover, The Local's Patrick Reilly takes one last look at the highlights, the lowlights, and Malmö's time in the limelight. READ () »

Sweden win ice hockey world champs at home

Sweden win ice hockey world champs at home

Sweden's ice hockey team won the gold-medal match in the ice hockey World Championships against Switzerland on Sunday night, trouncing the visitors 5-1. READ () »

Nord Stream plans new gas pipelines

Nord Stream plans new gas pipelines

Gas pipeline firm Nord Stream will hold an information meeting on the Baltic island of Gotland on Monday to introduce a proposal to extend its controversial gas pipeline project. READ () »

Royal wedding fever hits Sweden

Royal wedding fever hits Sweden

The Swedish royal family gathered in the Royal Chapel in Stockholm on Sunday for the publication of the banns of marriage ahead of the wedding of Princess Madeleine and her fiancé Christopher O'Neill. READ () »

Christian Democrat support drops: poll

Christian Democrat support drops: poll

Sweden's Green Party is on the rise while support for the Christian Democrats is at the lowest in nearly a decade, according to the latest voter poll. READ () »

Man held over armed jewellery store robbery

Man held over armed jewellery store robbery

A man was detained Sunday morning on suspicion of involvement in a violent jewellery store heist which left three people with gunshot wounds. READ () »

Vast peat fire in Skåne may burn for weeks

Vast peat fire in Skåne may burn for weeks

A fire that started on Friday afternoon in a peat bog in southern Sweden has closed down highway traffic and could take weeks to put out, according to local rescue services. READ () »

Eurovision in Malmö
Denmark wins Eurovision 2013 in Malmö

Denmark wins Eurovision 2013 in Malmö

Emmelie De Forest of Denmark takes over from Sweden's Loreen as the Eurovision Song Contest champion, capping a spectacle that kept Malmö and the rest of Europe cheering on Saturday night. READ () »

More National

 

RECEIVE OUR NEWSLETTER AND ALERTS
 
  1. Live Blog: Eurovision Song Contest final »
  2. 'Sweden next in line for housing market crash' »
  3. Solna voted best place to live in Sweden »
  4. American 'prince' says no to Swedish citizenship »
  5. Denmark wins Eurovision 2013 in Malm

     

    Highlights
    Paul Hansen/World Press Photo DoToday Scanpix File photo: AP Scanpix Finest.se Screenshot: American Apparel Hasse Holmberg/Scanpix (File) Janerik Henriksson/Scanpix Asif Akbar/sxc.hu (File) Lana Wimmer Sex in Sweden: condoms optional - study AP (File) AP fastighetsbyrån.se Scanpix (File) Juanma Perez Rabasco Finest.se scanpix.se Screenshot: Robinson's David Shankbone/WikiCommons WikiCommons Facebook Photo: Private Flikr Scanpix Ben Grey/Flickr YouTube Scanpix fastighetsbyrån.se Eddie Gee Photo: The Local Dixie Thomas Hughes

     

    Latest news from The Local in Germany

    More news from Germany at thelocal.de

    Latest news from The Local in France

    More news from France at thelocal.fr

    Latest news from The Local in Norway

    More news from Norway at thelocal.no

    Latest news from The Local in Switzerland

    More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch

    Search News


    Register

    Register now for:
    > Free use of noticeboard
    > Special discounts
    > Weekly news roundup
    > Unlimited use of discuss

    REGISTER FOR FREE »


    Blog Update: Stripes News

    13 May 22:40

    Week 20 matches »

    "Div5 v IF Olympia Farsta: 2-2 Having come back from 1-0 down then 2-1 down, 10-men Stripes earned a worthy point from todays fixture. Lascelles took charge in goal after the keeper was red-carded and made some vital saves and interceptions. Robbie G scored from a low over head kick and then a penalty goal by..." READ »

Holiday Luxury Villa in Portugal
Casa Birgitta in Algarve, Portugal. Reduced price in best location. Private estate on white sand beach. All amenities included. Book here today! edward_george1@hotmail.com
The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
Counseling in English
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Trade binary options
Create an account with Banc De Binary, the world’s most reputable binary options firm, and start cashing in today! You can start by practicing with our free $50,000 demo account.
www.bbinary.com
Therapy in English
Expat counsellor & talk therapist offers counselling for stress, relationship issues, sexuality, culture adjustment & life coaching. Private & confidential. Stockholm or Skype. Contact me today! 08-559 22 636 or
CLICK HERE