Police in Stockholm have strengthened security at a protest against the deportation of Afghan asylum seekers. It comes after the demonstrators were attacked by people reportedly associated with a right-wing extremist group.
Jens Martensson from Stockholm police told TT news agency on Wednesday that security has been tightened at the sit-in protest at Mynttorget, a public square in the city’s Old Town.
“We’ve expanded security and will keep it in place at least during the day. Then a new decision will be made,” Martensson said.
It comes just one day after the demonstrators, most of whom are unaccompanied refugee youths, were attacked by a group of around 15 people who allegedly threw smoke bombs and a lit flare at them.
Three people suffered minor injuries in the attack, which took place around 8pm local time on Tuesday.
Eyewitnesses told Swedish media the attackers were from the right-wing extremist group Nordisk ungdom (Nordic Youth), due to their chants and the prints on their clothing.
The extremist group, which has been behind similar attacks in the past, also wrote on its website that it was at Mynttorget to protest.
Martensson said the attackers had been identified, but declined to confirm whether they were from Nordic Youth.