Unrest in Stockholm 2013

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A picture from Husby on the second day of the riot

Riots broke out in Stockholm on May 19, 2013 after a man armed with a machete was shot dead by police officers. The riot began in the district of Rinkeby-Kista and initially concentrated on the district of Husby , the majority of which have a migrant background. The unrest later spread to north, west and south Stockholm.

background

Typical prefabricated building in the Husby district

The unrest arose after a 69-year-old man was fatally shot in his apartment on the evening of May 13, 2013. According to the police, the man armed himself with a machete and locked himself in with his wife. Shortly before, he and a gang of young people had clashed. The police negotiated with the man without success and finally stormed his apartment. Since the man threatened the police with a machete, he was shot "in self-defense". According to media reports, he immigrated from Portugal thirty years ago .

There had already been riots in Stockholm in 2010 when up to 100 young people threw cobblestones, started fires and attacked the local police station in Rinkeby for two nights in a row .

Around 11,000 people live in Husby, around 83 percent of them have a migration background (as of 2008).

The riots

First night

The riots began on Sunday night on May 19, 2013, when teenagers set cars on fire in Husby . At least 100 automobiles were burned. A fire was set in a garage, evacuated the apartment block, and a mall was demolished. The police arriving at 10:00 p.m. were pelted with stones and three police officers were injured. At 5:30 in the morning, calm returned. The police estimated that between 50 and 60 young people were involved in the actions, but no arrests were made.

Second night

Burning cars on May 20, 2013

The unrest continued the following night. Youngsters burned eleven automobiles and four garbage cans and attacked the police and advancing firefighters with stones. The police estimated that 50 to 100 people were involved in the rioting. Some were only 12 or 13 years old, others were adults. At 4:00 a.m., quiet returned to the room. Seven people between the ages of 15 and 19 were arrested for assault. Two were released; a third was found to be under 15 years old.

There were minor unrest in southern Stockholm, although it is not known whether there was any connection with those in Husby. The violence also spread to the districts of Fittja, Kista, Rinkeby and Tensta.

Third night

The riots reached Bredäng, Edsberg, Flemingsberg, Norsborg and Skarpnäck on Tuesday night. Thirty automobiles were burned, a police station and a shopping center were damaged in Jakobsberg. The police arrested eight people. At 3:00 in the morning it was quiet.

Fourth night

The riots continued on Wednesday night. Many automobiles were burned. The police station in Rågsved was burned down. Police officers were attacked in Hagsätra and one of them was wounded. A restaurant in Skogås was burned down and fire fighters were attacked with stones.

Fifth night

Police in Rinkeby were called to work on Thursday at around 8:00 p.m. after five automobiles were set on fire. In Vällingby, young people threw stones and bottles at a subway station, destroyed several windows and threatened the staff before they left again. After midnight, several smaller fires were reported in the districts of Tensta and Farsta. At least two schools, a police station and 15 automobiles were set on fire during the night. A total of 13 people were arrested on Thursday night and Friday morning.

Sixth night

Due to the continued fighting between rioters and the police, the police requested assistance on Friday.

In the meantime, the riot has spread to other areas in Sweden, including Örebro , while the situation in Husby, where the unrest originated, is completely under police control again. Police arrested 18 right-wing extremists during the night just hours after participating in rioting.

reaction

Government response

On Tuesday afternoon, Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt said: "There have been two nights of great unrest, destruction and an intimidating atmosphere in Husby, and there is a risk that it will continue. There are groups of young men who believe they can and should change society through violence. Let that be clear: this is not okay. We cannot allow ourselves to be ruled by violence ".

Justice Minister Beatrice Ask said that every attack on the police should be reported.

Police reaction

The police started an investigation into the original shooting incident. The police had been attacked with stones by the youths and had three injured on Sunday and seven on Monday. The police followed a non-interference strategy and stated that their goal was "to do as little as possible". Seven teenagers were arrested Monday night and eight on Tuesday.

Ulf Johansson, the deputy chief of police for the Stockholm district, said on Thursday: "Every injured person is a tragedy, every car lit is a loss to society ... but not all of Stockholm is on fire. We should look at the situation carefully."

Public response

Husby residents reacted angrily at the rioters, property destruction and damage to Husby's reputation. They expressed the conviction that the shooting incident was used by the youth as a pretext to cause unrest. They also blamed the lack of influence from parents.

Media coverage

The local English-language news portal "The Local" reported extensively on the riot. The cautious reaction of the Swedish media was explained by the writer and journalist Andrew Brown through the deliberate policy of not encouraging imitators and with a cultural prudish about violence.

See also

Web links

Commons : Unrest in Stockholm 2013  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. Man ihjälskjuten av polis i Husby Svenska Dagbladet, May 13, 2013
  2. ^ "Stockholm burning: Riots grip surburbs as violent trouble spreads" The Independent, May 24, 2013.
  3. ^ "Sweden riots revive immigration debate" , The Australian. May 23, 2013. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  4. Husby Rinkeby och Nickby, Borgåbladet, May 23, 2013
  5. ^ "Youths burn 100 cars in north Stockholm riots" , The Local. May 20, 2013. Retrieved May 22, 2013
  6. ^ "'Husby is usually a very peaceful place'" , Törnkvist, Ann (May 20, 2013). The Local. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  7. ^ A b c "Thirty fires in third night of Stockholm riots" The Local. May 22, 2013. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  8. ^ "Fresh clashes as more cars burn in Husby," The Local. May 21, 2013. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  9. a b c d "Seven arrested over Stockholm's Husby riots" , The Local. May 21, 2013. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  10. "Ännu en natt med bränder och stenar" , dn.se. May 23, 2013. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  11. a b LIVE: Nya bränder i Stockholmsförorter | Nyheter | Quickdraws | Senaste nytt - Nyheter Sport Nöje TV , Expressen.se. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  12. ^ Stockholm riots spread south on fourth night , The Local. Thelocal.se. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  13. ^ A b "Schools burn on fifth night of Stockholm riots" , The Local. Thelocal.se. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  14. ^ Police demand reinforcements against rioters , Süddeutsche Zeitung , May 24, 2013. Accessed May 24, 2013
  15. "brænder i Stockholmsområdet och Örebro" , aftonbladet.se. May 25, 2013. Accessed May 2013.
  16. ^ A b "Riots grip Stockholm suburbs after police shooting" , BBC News. May 22, 2013. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  17. ^ "Rioting youths set fires, attack police, in Stockholm suburb, angered over police shooting," Fox News. Associated Press. May 20, 2013. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  18. ^ "Youths burn 100 cars in north Stockholm riots" , The Local. May 20, 2013. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  19. "Polisens taktik: 'Göra så lite som möjligt'" , Expressen, accessed on May 24, 2013
  20. ^ "Stockholm riots: a view from the street in Husby" , Gee, Oliver; Landes, David; Håkansson, Sanna (May 22, 2013). The Local. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  21. ^ "On Woolwich, British media could learn from Swedish riots coverage," Brown, Andrew, The Guardian. May 23, 2013. Retrieved May 23, 2013.