Date: Friday, 04 August 2023
Unrest broke out on Järvafältet during Thursday.- We are equipped since before and of course we take this into account. They will be checked at the border and we will then make an individual assessment. We will ask who they are, what the purpose of the trip is, says Calle Persson, press spokesperson at the police in Region South.
Maria Sundström, deputy commanding officer.Maria Sundström, deputy commanding officer for the operation, says that they have information that people can travel to Sweden and that they have already stopped people who were on their way in.
The police rule out new clashes today or tomorrow and are prepared for it. Among other things, the area around Eggeby farm will be monitored with drones and cameras.
- Before yesterday, we included in our assessment that there could be clashes, but a deviation yesterday was that there was a very large number of highly motivated and violent individuals.
During Friday, the police had equipped themselves at Järvafältet.The organizers of the demonstration against the Eritrean cultural festival are critical of the police withdrawing their demonstration permit.
- We are very, very disappointed that we are not allowed to continue demonstrating, says Mebrahtom Selomon, one of those who organized yesterday's demonstration.
He does not know the information that busloads of protesters are on their way to Järva . But he is not surprised by it.
- These demonstrations will continue until this festival is stopped. The regime uses it to spread its war propaganda and threats, he says.
He believes that the Swedish authorities do not take the Eritrean regime seriously.
- People have fled here to live in peace, but they persecute us and threaten us and spread their propaganda, you are never at peace here.
Several people, both private individuals and police officers, were injured during Thursday.He regrets that the demonstration degenerated and says that the organizers had hoped for a peaceful demonstration.
According to him, the regime uses the festival to spread war propaganda and many are frustrated that it is allowed to be held.
- These are strong emotions that cannot be controlled. You can't just look at what happened yesterday, many are threatened and suffer from it.
He is critical of the festival being allowed to continue.
- Several countries such as Great Britain and Belgium have stopped it, but not Sweden.
A building and cars were set on fire.
