Europe

Dozens arrested as neo-Nazis and anti-fascists clash in Sweden

Extreme right-wing Nordic Resistance Movement mounts rally in Gothenburg

Police prevent demonstrators from parading down on a forbidden street during the Nordic Resistance Movement march in Gothenburg, Sweden. Photograph: Fredrik Sandberg/TT News Agency/Reuters
Police prevent demonstrators from parading down on a forbidden street during the Nordic Resistance Movement march in Gothenburg, Sweden. Photograph: Fredrik Sandberg/TT News Agency/Reuters
Sat Sept 30 2017 - 14:53

Dozens of people were arrested on Saturday as neo-Nazis and anti-fascists clashed with police during a march by the extreme right-wing Nordic Resistance Movement (NMR) in Gothenburg, Sweden, police said.

Police use pepper spray to stop far-right Nordic Resistance Movement marchers trying to change from the planned route, in Gothenburg, Sweden. Photograph: Fredrik Sandberg/AFP/Getty Images
Police use pepper spray to stop far-right Nordic Resistance Movement marchers trying to change from the planned route, in Gothenburg, Sweden. Photograph: Fredrik Sandberg/AFP/Getty Images

The NMR gathered hundreds of people for the march. Membership of Nazi organisations is not illegal in Sweden and the NMR had a permit from the police to march.

Counter-demonstrators protest in front of police prior to the far-right Nordic Resistance Movement march in Gothenburg, Sweden. Photograph: Adam Ihse/AFP/Getty Images
Counter-demonstrators protest in front of police prior to the far-right Nordic Resistance Movement march in Gothenburg, Sweden. Photograph: Adam Ihse/AFP/Getty Images
Nordic Resistance Movement marchers in central Gothenburg, Sweden, September 30th, 2017. Photograph: Fredrik Sandberg/TT News Agency/Reuters
Nordic Resistance Movement marchers in central Gothenburg, Sweden, September 30th, 2017. Photograph: Fredrik Sandberg/TT News Agency/Reuters

Swedish police said on their website that at least 20 people had been apprehended, and that one police officer had been slightly injured. A police spokesman later told Swedish state television SVT that an additional 10 people had been arrested.

Anti-fascist counter-demonstrators prior to the Nordic Resistance Movement’s march in Gothenburg, Sweden. Photograph: Thomas Johansson/TT News Agency/Reuters
Anti-fascist counter-demonstrators prior to the Nordic Resistance Movement’s march in Gothenburg, Sweden. Photograph: Thomas Johansson/TT News Agency/Reuters

The police anticipated violence and had called in reinforcements from all police districts in Sweden and added 350 temporary jail beds in a police garage.

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Reuters