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The government summoned the parties after the attack on a political meeting in Gubbängen in southern Stockholm. The event in Gubbängen was organized by the Left Party and the Green Party.
Strömmer points out after the meeting that there is increased activity from the violence-supporting environment, both from Islamist extremism and right-wing extremism.
– In addition, there is a more latent threat from the autonomous left which seems to have been a little quieter for a number of years, but which could also of course be activated if polarization grows and other actors step forward, he tells DN.
The parties were present at the meeting legal policy spokespersons, from the Riksdag’s justice committee, as well as the party secretaries. V’s party secretary Aron Etzler says that there was a consensus about the seriousness and that many raised how the debate has been turned up online.
– If you are exposed to various forms of threatening behavior online or elsewhere and that this is carried out when more extreme groups carry it out, then it reinforces each other. Then it becomes a credible threat.
The Left Party’s party secretary Aron Etzler. Photo: Lisa Mattisson
Are you worried about the safety of your party members during the election campaign?
– Yes, it is clear that you will be in this situation. We need to mobilize democratic society to protect meetings and politics from threats and violence, says Etzler.
There is strong concern in the Social Democrats about what happened in Gubbängen and the events on May Day, where the Nazi Nordic Resistance Movement (NMR) disrupted political meetings, according to Ardalan Shekarabi (S), legal policy spokesperson. He wants to see a plan from the government.
– It is about everything from prioritizing police presence to the people being prosecuted, he says.
Amanda Lind (MP) at a demonstration in Gubbängen on April 27. Photo: My Matson
The Green Party’s spokesperson Amanda Lind has called what happened in Gubbängen for an act of terrorism. The Minister of Justice refers to the fact that a preliminary investigation is still underway, which he does not want to preempt.
– However, one can of course say that violent extremism and terrorism are very close to each other. It is clear that actions against a political meeting that are intended to instill fear, not only in those at the meeting but perhaps more widely, are very close to terrorism.
How do you assess the security situation for those who will participate in a political meeting or a demonstration?
– It is not possible to say that with the concreteness concerning each individual politician or each individual meeting. But we know that we have a more serious security situation in Sweden, says Strömmer, referring to the increase in the terrorist threat level that occurred in August.
Facts. The attack in Gubbängen
● No one has been arrested after the incident in Gubbängen on April 24, where participants at a political meeting were attacked with red spray and speaker Mathias Wåg received several punches.
● A smoke bomb was thrown into the meeting room. It is unclear who is behind the attack.
● The police are investigating assault in two cases, causing danger to another, disturbing public order and breaching the Act on Flammable and Explosive Goods.
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Researchers: Right-wing extremism has shrunk – but become more violent
Masked men stormed the meeting: “Feed on with probably ten punches”
NMR interfered with May Day speeches
