Sign up for the editor's
weekly newsletter
- Sweden edition
- Change edition:
- France |
- Germany |
- Norway |
- Switzerland
Reader Offer
May 27, 2012
German 'tourist' living in Gothenburg airport
Published: 13 Feb 12 15:58 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/39082/20120213/
A 27-year-old German man has been living at the Gothenburg Landvetter airport for two months having no wish to return to Germany and nowhere to go in Sweden.
- 'Retard doll' shocks Swedish shoppers (25 May 12)
- Man convicted after stabbing girl in neck (22 May 12)
- Jail for heads of massive sex trafficking ring (14 May 12)
According to the paper, the man, a German citizen, turned up at the airport with a suitcase and a passport. But he doesn't want to travel home nor anywhere else. The border police, who see the man every day, say that they have no plans to make him leave.
”He doesn't want to go home. He wants a job and to be able to stay here. It isn't that easy. The German consulate has been trying to help him. He has no money but people give him food and coffee. People feel sorry for him. He is no trouble at all, and fits in well among the travellers at the airport,” said head of the Landvetter border police, Ingerd Nejding, to the paper.
The man sleeps at the airport every night, most often in the prayer room. If he manages to get some money for the bus he sometimes goes in to Gothenburg centre but he always returns to the airport at night.
He has no money at all and only survives because the airport café supplies him with the occasional meal. On Sunday, the border police believed he had left after being offered a job.
”But he turned up here today again,” Nejding told Aftonbladet.
The police, the church and the German embassy are now all trying to help the man.
”We'll see. Sooner or later he'll probably just take off. He must get tired of being here. It can't be that fun. We're all hoping it will work out for him,” Nejding told the paper.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Fark It!
Digg This
Share everywhere
Send to a friend
Printable version
Twitter ThisToday's headlines
EUROVISION SONG CONTEST
Loreen win gives Sweden Eurovision 'Euphoria'
Sweden's Loreen brought home gold in the glitzy 2012 Eurovision Song Contest early Sunday morning with an impassioned rendition of her hit "Euphoria" from Baku in Azerbaijan. READ (9 COMMENTS) »
Swedes bask in record May highs
Swedes were enjoying a real taste of summer heat on Friday with thermometers indicated record highs in some areas of the country, with more of the same promised over the weekend. READ (6 COMMENTS) »
New Swedish union boss seeks welfare state boost
Sweden's Trade Union Confederation on Saturday elected as its new president Karl-Petter Thorwaldsson, who proceeded to call for a restoration of the Swedish welfare model. READ (6 COMMENTS) »
Swedish police hunt man for imam shooting
A warrant has been issued for the arrest of a man in connection with the shooting of an Uzbek imam in northern Sweden in February. READ »
Hillary Clinton lines up Sweden visit
Sweden is set to host US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in early June and discussions will concern green energy, internet freedom, Afghanistan and the Middle East READ (4 COMMENTS) »
Ibrahimovic pledges future to Milan
Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic has stated that he is happy at AC Milan and will honour his contract, while bemoaning the club's lack of financial muscle. READ »
'Retard doll' shocks Swedish shoppers
A doll billed as a "real retard" found its way into stores in Gothenburg in western Sweden on Thursday, prompting strong reactions about a campaign meant to draw attention to the treatment of people with disabilities. READ (18 COMMENTS) »
Woman jailed for fatal love-triangle stabbing
A jealous Swedish woman who murdered her ex-boyfriend’s new partner in September has been sentenced to 14 years in prison. READ (15 COMMENTS) »
More Society
- 27/05 Loreen win gives Sweden Eurovision 'Euphoria' (9 comments) »
- 25/05 'Retard doll' shocks Swedish shoppers (18 comments) »
- 25/05 Ten signs that you've 'gone native' in Sweden (22 comments) »
- 25/05 UK wildlife park animals catch ‘Euphoria’ fever »
- 25/05 Loreen takes Sweden to Eurovision final (18 comments) »
- 24/05 Azerbaijan condemns Loreen's activist meeting (10 comments) »
- 24/05 Honk-happy man charged for overusing car horn (8 comments) »
- 23/05 Octogenarian in 48-hour sun lounger ordeal (5 comments) »
- 23/05 Police share pic when chubby thief gets stuck (5 comments) »
- 22/05 Estelle baptized in 'historic' ceremony (2 comments) »
Meet Sanna, 9 years old
Sanna is one of 2 million people in Sweden under the age of 18. Sweden is seen as a good place to grow up. The law makes sure children are well-protected and defends their rights and any organizations work with children's well-being. Read more »
Strindberg, king of drama
August Strindberg's plays shocked society, dazzled audiences and revolutionized drama. A century after his death, Strindberg, with his powerful, timeless themes, is celebrated around the world. Read more »
Blog Update: Snuggling With the Enemy
The story of K Composite Magazine »
"I’m working on a couple long articles which will be posted here soon. While those are in the works, I thought I’d share this article and interview about my magazine, K Composite, which was recently published on the site Design-Milk.com. Enjoy! Scott Ritcher launched his now digitally glossy mag, K Composite, back when Macs were used..." READ »
- 23/5 16:27 Prime Minister Reinfeldt chats with The Local (The Local's Blog)
- 18/5 10:55 The answer is in the seed bag (Julie's Nordic Island)
- 11/5 20:19 Back in Stockholm (They Call Me Sweden)
Highlights
|
|
Swedish word of the day
lång
adjective
Lång means long, tall and can be used for height, distance or time.
Latest news from The Local in Germany
- 26/05 Forced deportations 60 years ago remembered »
- 26/05 Germany an 'island of bliss' for music festivals »
More news from Germany at thelocal.de
Latest news from The Local in Switzerland
- 26/03 Swiss customs seize Roman sarcophagus »
- 26/03 Roche extends hostile $5.7 billion Illumina bid »
More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch
Latest news from The Local in France
- 26/03 Sarkozy bans controversial cleric »
- 26/03 Toulouse gunman divorces wife hours before assault »
More news from France at thelocal.fr
Latest news from The Local in Norway
More news from Norway at thelocal.no
Blog
New book about Sweden – get to know the country
Sweden – Up North, Down to Earth is a book about Sweden today. A country of natural beauty and open space, and a society focused on equality, human rights and sustainability. Meet regular and astonishing Swedes, supercars and indie rock bands, vampires and royalties.
Buy your copy of Sweden – Up North, Down to Earth from Sweden Bookshop
In cooperation with DoToday
Register
Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss
Noticeboard
- 23/05 piano lessons
- 23/05 Seeking helper for Posting parcels at postal office
- 22/05 Coffee-maker
- 22/05 Pet sitter available in Gotene and Lidkoping
- 22/05 apartment in Lund wanted
- 22/05 Musicians wanted
Discuss
- 06:18 How to pay in Germany from Sweden?!
- 03:25 Swedish property market
- 03:02 TV Subscriptions and Cancelations
- 02:28 Benefit for Swedish
- 01:42 Buying a car in Sweden
- 01:36 I need info about these Swedish candies
- 22:33 Transfer money from Sweden to UK
- 20:47 Prospects of a medical residency in Sweden
- 20:20 Helicopters over Stockholm
- 19:46 Rosetta Stone Opinions
Volunteer Venture
Volunteer Venture is dedicated to promoting community tourism by welcoming volunteers and travelers to discover the cultural differences in Nepal as English teaching volunteers, orphanage volunteers, Monk teachers and many more
www.volunteerventure.org/
Volunteer Venture is dedicated to promoting community tourism by welcoming volunteers and travelers to discover the cultural differences in Nepal as English teaching volunteers, orphanage volunteers, Monk teachers and many more
www.volunteerventure.org/
The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
English Speaking Therapist Stockholm
British-Australian Male Counsellor. Counselling Therapy for Depression, Mental Health, Sex, Relationship & Expat Issues
08-559 22 636 or CLICK HERE
British-Australian Male Counsellor. Counselling Therapy for Depression, Mental Health, Sex, Relationship & Expat Issues
08-559 22 636 or CLICK HERE
Doctor of Psychology
Therapy in English in Stockholm Trained in California Individuals & Couples (08) 93 81 48 FREE phone consultation
Visit anxiousorblue.se
Therapy in English in Stockholm Trained in California Individuals & Couples (08) 93 81 48 FREE phone consultation
Visit anxiousorblue.se
Turning Point Counseling
Turning Point Counselling centre offers the international community of Stockholm a safe space for personal development, counselling and coaching.
http://www.turning-point.se/show.asp
Turning Point Counselling centre offers the international community of Stockholm a safe space for personal development, counselling and coaching.
http://www.turning-point.se/show.asp
Swedish Down Town
Swedish Down Town PR Consulting and Productions is an innovative business company which provides valuable assistance with Public Relations and Communications in the Swedish and the international market.
www.swedishdowntown.com
Swedish Down Town PR Consulting and Productions is an innovative business company which provides valuable assistance with Public Relations and Communications in the Swedish and the international market.
www.swedishdowntown.com
QUALITY ACCOMMODATION ON SWEDISH HIGH COAST
Comfortable Fully Serviced Apartments for Leisure or Business Travel Beautiful surroundings. Internet & Sat TV
www.oldriverhouse.se
Comfortable Fully Serviced Apartments for Leisure or Business Travel Beautiful surroundings. Internet & Sat TV
www.oldriverhouse.se
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.
Good idea, but please make sure that you have a European passport first:)
I can imagine how the story could have taken a whole different shape if this guy was a non-european... or perhaps there wouldn't have been a story to begin with.
What if he would have been Bulgarian or Polish? Would you have the same reaction?
You don't have to answer me. Answer yourselves. What makes you hate the east when we have the same blood.
"I have led a poor life" - the German said.
Well most Polish, Bulgarians or Romanians for that matter didn't even have half the chances he got, and still they would have been sent to prison for "tresspassing airport security" or "being homeless"
It sickens me to see such hatred where there's no reason. Especially in Europe which we should make out of an example for the world to see it's possible to be kind to every nation around your borders.
If some homeless people turned up everyday would they be given free food and drink and allowed to stay...im guessing no....
This bloke leaves the airport and goes sightseeing when he feels like it and is just a nut
agree with you. so many homeless in every cities, but if they turn up at the same place what are the chances they are offered shelter and food? even though they are Swedish.