Mounted police charge antifascists
Police used horses to disperse a demonstration in Salem on Saturday after marchers refused to leave the place where a 17 year old boy was murdered six years ago.
The demonstration, with 500-600 anti-racism protestors, calmly left Rönninge square at around 1.15pm. But before arriving in Salem they stopped at the site of the boy's death.
By then it was after 2pm and permission for the demonstration had expired. Police asked the protestors to continue on their way. When they refused, police tried to direct the crowd with horses. When that failed, the decision was taken to disperse the group by riding directly at them.
Both demonstrators and police officers were in the crowd which was charged, but according to police spokesman Björn Engström nobody was seriously injured.
There were many left-wing extremists in the demonstration, which was organised by the Network Against Racism. The objective was to put a stop to a march held by far right extremists every year in memory of the 17 year old.
Three antifascists were arrested in the skirmish which followed the demonstration. Police and witnesses reported that a number of protestors had levered up paving stones and threw them at officers.
At around 7pm on Saturday there were still several small groups of antifascists in the area around Rönninge and Salem. They had not come into contact with the larger group of far right extremists who were on their way from Rönninge to the centre of Salem.
Comments
See Also
The demonstration, with 500-600 anti-racism protestors, calmly left Rönninge square at around 1.15pm. But before arriving in Salem they stopped at the site of the boy's death.
By then it was after 2pm and permission for the demonstration had expired. Police asked the protestors to continue on their way. When they refused, police tried to direct the crowd with horses. When that failed, the decision was taken to disperse the group by riding directly at them.
Both demonstrators and police officers were in the crowd which was charged, but according to police spokesman Björn Engström nobody was seriously injured.
There were many left-wing extremists in the demonstration, which was organised by the Network Against Racism. The objective was to put a stop to a march held by far right extremists every year in memory of the 17 year old.
Three antifascists were arrested in the skirmish which followed the demonstration. Police and witnesses reported that a number of protestors had levered up paving stones and threw them at officers.
At around 7pm on Saturday there were still several small groups of antifascists in the area around Rönninge and Salem. They had not come into contact with the larger group of far right extremists who were on their way from Rönninge to the centre of Salem.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.