Dehai News -- Riots have broken out at an Eritrean festival on Järvafältet in Stockholm

Black smoke rises over the festival grounds after protesters attack an Eritrean cultural festival north of Stockholm. Photo: Niklas Porter

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Chaos at Järvafältet - riots and stone throwing

Riots at an Eritrean festival

UPDATED:TODAY 15:13PUBLISHED:TODAY 14:01

Riots have broken out at an Eritrean festival on Järvafältet in Stockholm, where a large group of protesters are said to be on the scene.

- It's total chaos here, says TV4 News reporter Kristin Stein, who is on the spot at Järvafältet.

Many have fled the field

According to information to TV4 Nyheterna, several people were injured in the riot. However, how many is unclear.

- We have seen people who have been beaten and how police have blocked off one lane which is right next to the festival area. We see a big cloud of smoke, it seems to be burning in this festival area. We have seen people running across the road and fleeing the field, says TV4 Nyheterna's Kristin Stein.

- There is a very anxious and chaotic atmosphere here at the site.

At the same time, the police state that there are no reports of injured festival participants.

Criticism of the festival

The festival Eritrea Scandinavia is an Eritrean cultural festival. It has been organized in Stockholm since the 90s and has previously been criticized for being loyal to the regime. Last year, the festival was supposed to take place, but Järva Folkets park canceled the contract shortly before the opening, as DN reported at the time .

- I have seen with my own eyes how protesters have thrown objects, bottles among other things, at the cars that drive by here, says Kristin Stein, who states that the situation at the site is somewhat calmer shortly before 3 p.m.

- It seems that many people have been evicted from the festival area and the police seem to have the situation reasonably under control. Some parts of the road are still being blocked off, so the traffic is not moving completely as it should. But it is much calmer now than when we arrived at the scene, she says.

The text is updated.

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