Strangelove wrote:If you watched the video Per, they say the Swedish government and media are downplaying the crisis big time.
Oh that's right, you work for the government over there in Sweden, don't ya big guy.
Interesting, now that President Trump has shone a spotlight on Sweden these crimes are making headlines:
I wouldn't say the crisis is being downplayed; I would say there is no crisis.
And if you don't take my word for it, here is the official information on the crime and security situation in Sweden from the US State dept:
Overall Crime and Safety Situation
Post Crime Rating: Low
Crime Threats
The general crime rate in Sweden is below the U.S. national average; however, the notion that foreign travelers are immune to crime is a common misconception. The prevalent rate of crime in major urban areas shows travelers are actually more susceptible to certain types of crime (thefts) than national criminal statistics would indicate. Sweden’s geographic locale and climate affect crime rates, as crime tends to increase acutely in summer months when tourism, empty residences, and diminished police resources contribute to a spike in theft during extended daylight.
According to official statistics, 2015 saw an four percent increase in reported crimes compared to 2014. The categories of crimes that reported the highest increases were vandalism and computer-based fraud. 2015 saw a slight decrease in thefts, sex offenses, and traffic crimes. In 2015, car thefts and thefts from vehicles increased one percent from the previous year for a total number of 67,400 reported crimes.The homicide rate in 2015 remained relatively unchanged from 2014 with approximately 90 reported cases. The country is not immune to random acts of violence.
On August 10, 2015, two individuals were stabbed to death in an IKEA store in Västerås.
On October 22, 2015, a 21-year-old man attacked and killed three individuals in a school in Trollhättan (the perpetrator was shot and killed by police).
Criminal networks from neighboring Schengen countries can impact the nature of criminal activity in Sweden, but it is unknown exactly how much influence these networks have. Organized criminal activity is driven by low-level organized criminal groups, many associated with larger motorcycle gangs and organized crime elements from Eastern Europe. Small businesses have reported extortion; however, larger, international companies and franchises have not reported being targeted. Between January-August 2015, Malmö experienced 31 grenade attacks, which resulted in no deaths and minor injuries to a few individuals, that police attributed to conflicts between organized crime elements. Police made a concerted effort to stop grenade attacks, and none have been reported since then.
Cybersecurity Issues
The four percent rise in the crime rate in 2015 is greatly attributed to the rise in computer-based fraud.
...
Terrorism Threat
Post Terrorism Rating: Medium
Local, Regional, and International Terrorism Threats/Concerns
Sweden’s political engagement abroad has not cultivated homegrown domestic terrorist groups with a clear mandate/agenda to target Swedish infrastructure or government. However, the U.S. Embassy recognizes the possibility that unaffiliated/autonomous groups may conduct terrorist attacks.
The Schengen enlargement, which in December 2008 opened EU borders to the Baltic states, expanded the open border area with Belarus and Russia by 1,800 kilometers. Sweden has seen a rise in the number of asylum seekers entering their country. The Swedish Migration Agency estimated that the country would receive between 160,000-190,000 asylum seekers in 2015, the highest per capita in the EU. In November 2015, Sweden began temporary internal border controls in response to massive immigration flows.
In December 2010, a busy commercial district of Stockholm experienced its first reported suicide bombing. The bomber activated his devices prematurely and killed only himself.
In September 2011, four men were arrested by the Swedish Security Service for plotting to murder artist Lars Vilks.
The Swedish Security Service (SÄPO) is concerned with rapidly increasing numbers of foreign terrorist fighters who have left Sweden to join violent extremist groups in Syria. Of the 280 individuals who traveled, some 40 were killed in action, 125 remain in country, and 115 returned to Sweden. Thirty-five of the foreign fighters were females.
On November 18, 2015, SÄPO raised the national alert level to “four,” just below the highest level, indicating a real threat from a serious perpetrator with means to carry out an attack. This is the first time in modern history that Sweden has had a Level Four alert.
On December 14, 2015, the Gothenburg District Court sentenced two individuals to life in prison for “the crime of terrorism through murder” after it ruled that graphic video evidence showed the pair taking part in the beheadings of two people in Syria. The verdicts marked the first time foreign fighters were convicted in Sweden of crimes committed in Syria, and the first time individuals were convicted for the crime of terrorism as opposed to the secondary charges of crimes against humanity and murder.
Extreme right- and left-wing groups and ethnic-based groups have targeted one another in low-level violence, some of which was either attributed to commemorating anniversaries to their respective causes or in retaliation to perceived attacks.
Political, Economic, Religious, and Ethnic Violence
Post Political Violence Rating: Low
Civil Unrest
Sweden’s laws allow for peaceful demonstrations, and 2015 saw multiple demonstrations directed at the U.S. Embassy. However, these demonstrations were not “anti-American” and ended peacefully without incident. In 2015, there were demonstrations that did escalate into violence; thus, travelers should recognize the possibility that peaceful demonstrations can turn violent unexpectedly and quickly.
https://www.osac.gov/pages/ContentRepor ... ?cid=19681
Yeah, I work for a government agency, but in a completely un-political position. Since we do business with the defense though, and occassionally handle classified information, I've had to clear security background checks, so you can rest assured that I am not a terrorist...
And riots in Sweden are rare enough to
always make headlines.
Most of the footage Horowitz used was from a riot in 2013.
If you read the article you linked to, you may have noticed that what caused the riot was when the police made a drug related arrest in one of the areas (Rinkeby) that Horowitz claim they do not even dare enter. There are criminal gangs in Sweden too, and they don't always appreciate police intervention. Apart from the drug dealer(?) they also arrested one of the stone throwers, and they are investigating several others.
I don't defend the rioters; they should all be arrested imho.
But I reject the notion that the situation in Sweden is out of hand.
From your article:
"This kind of situation doesn't happen that often but it is always regrettable when it happens," Bystrom said.
This is probably one of the safest places in the world.
The odd riot in a neighbourhood with socioeconomic problems doesn't change that.
And, btw, they are about to open a new police station in central Rinkeby, which will have some 200 police officers stationed there, so the idea of a "no go zone" is ridiculous. Quite the opposite; the original report that spawned the "no go zone" myth, was a report that identified areas where the police need to
increase their presence. And that's exactly what they are doing.
