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Tuesday, July 1, 2025

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This article was published 1 year ago

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/police-officers-threatened-in-their-free-time/

Sweden

Police officers threatened in their free time

Deteriorating safety

Published 29 January 2024
– By Editorial Staff
In order to avoid threats, police officers want to see stricter legislation and not to have to work alone.
1 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Four out of ten police officers have been threatened or violated in connection with their work in the past year. At the same time, more than one in ten have been victims in their free time.

The survey, conducted by research company Novus on behalf of the Swedish Police Association (Polisförbundet), shows that 37% of Swedish police officers have been subjected to threats, violence and harassment in connection with their work in the past year. In addition, eleven percent say they have been targeted in their free time.

– It is always unacceptable for police officers to be subjected to threats and violence, but when it happens outside working hours, when the police are not on duty, another line is crossed, says Katharina von Sydow, president of the Swedish Police Association, in a press release.

The police officers in the survey call for more police officers, stricter legislation and identity protection as possible measures to address the problem. The crime of threatening a police officer should also be expanded to include threats against family members, for example. Better supervision and fewer instances of lone working are also called for.

– Solo work should not occur because it takes at least two police officers to make a safe and legally sound intervention. Nevertheless, there are situations where our members are the only police officers on the ground, said von Sydow.

The survey was conducted between October 18 and November 7. 1043 police officers responded, with a response rate of 46%.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/former-swedish-politician-convicted-of-sexual-harassment-of-minor-avoids-prison/

Sweden

Former Swedish politician convicted of sexual harassment of minor – avoids prison

Deteriorating safety

Published 27 June 2025
– By Editorial Staff
The district court in Sweden assesses that it is unlikely that Hemming will subject more children to sexual abuse.
2 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Gustav Hemming, former regional politician and leading figure for the Center Party in the Stockholm Region, was convicted on Wednesday by the Attunda District Court for sexual harassment after masturbating in front of a 13-year-old boy.

The district court established that the crime had a clear sexual motive and violated the child’s sexual integrity. Despite this, Hemming was sentenced to probation, thus avoiding prison time.

The incident occurred on the Roslagsbanan commuter train in August last year, and the 52-year-old politician has admitted to the act. However, in police interviews, he claimed that the act was not criminal, arguing that he had perceived a sexual connection and that he did not understand that the boy was so young.

– I was looking around a bit and I perceived some kind of contact there that explains why, well, I perceived a kind of mutuality that can be sexually arousing in an anonymous environment, Hemming said during questioning and continued:

– From my perspective, it was a derailed sexualized flirtation.

The court dismissed this defense and determined that Hemming should have realized that the victim was a child.

“According to the district court, the politician must have understood that the victim was under 15 years of age, and since the act had a clear sexual nature and was intended to violate the victim’s sexual integrity, he is convicted of sexual harassment of a minor”, the court states.

To receive €1.1 million from taxpayers

The case became known after the TV program “Efterlyst” (Sweden’s equivalent of “America’s Most Wanted”) showed images of a man touching himself, both inside and outside his clothes, on Stockholm public transport.

A party colleague recognized Hemming and alerted the Center Party, which in turn filed a police report. The Center Party official resigned from his position this winter and was charged in May.

The district court assessed that there is no elevated risk of recidivism, which justifies the probationary sentence.

The Nordic Times has in several articles highlighted Hemming’s case – including reporting on how he was granted approximately €1.1 million in severance pay from taxpayer money, as long as he is not convicted of serious crimes.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Conditional sentence

A conditional sentence is a penalty in the Swedish legal system where the convicted person avoids prison but instead is placed under a two-year probationary period. During this period, the person must not commit any new crimes.

Conditional sentences are often given to individuals who are deemed to have a low risk of reoffending and have no prior criminal record. The sentence can be combined with fines, community service, or - as in this case - compensation to the victim.

https://nordictimes.com/world/chaos-at-french-festival-over-140-attacked-with-syringes/

World

Chaos at French festival – over 140 attacked with syringes

Deteriorating safety

Published 23 June 2025
– By Editorial Staff
The Fête de la Musique is usually described as one of France's biggest folk festivals - but this year it was a nightmare.
3 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

France’s annual music festival, Fête de la Musique, turned into chaos when over 140 people were reportedly attacked with syringes in several parts of the country over the weekend. At the same time, there were reports of violent riots, injured police officers, and hundreds of arrests.

WARNING: This article contains disturbing images and video clips.

The traditional Fête de la Musique, which every year attracts millions of people to streets and squares across France, had a grim aftermath this year.

According to information from French authorities and several media outlets, at least 145 people reported being stabbed or stabbed with syringes during the festival last weekend.

The attacks are said to have taken place in various locations around the country, including Paris, Metz, and other major cities.

Assaults, smoke bombs, and chaos

Several witnesses describe chaotic scenes with fights, smoke bombs, and panic among festival-goers. Video clips shared on social media show people being kicked while lying on the ground and large crowds being dispersed by police.

The police confirm that they have received a large number of reports of suspected syringe attacks, but emphasize that it is still unclear exactly what was injected – or whether the syringes contained any dangerous substances at all.

Several of those affected were taken to hospital for examination and toxicological tests, but the results have not yet been made public. According to reports, dozens of police officers were injured during the unrest.

Hundreds arrested

According to the French Ministry of the Interior, twelve people have been arrested on suspicion of involvement in the syringe attacks. At the same time, it is reported that around 370 people have been arrested for other crimes related to the festival, including violent crimes, vandalism, and disorderly conduct.

Fête de la Musique has been held since 1982 and is one of France’s largest public festivals, where both amateur and professional musicians perform in streets and squares.

However, this year’s event was marred by unusual and serious acts of violence, which have raised concerns and sparked debate about security at large public events.

The police are continuing their investigation to determine the motives, extent, and possible risks to those affected.

The authorities are urging anyone who suspects they have been attacked to seek medical attention immediately and contact the police.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/swedish-police-ignored-early-warnings-about-foxtrot-now-16-civilians-are-dead/

Sweden

Swedish police ignored early warnings about Foxtrot – now 16 civilians are dead

Deteriorating safety

Published 23 June 2025
– By Editorial Staff
If early warnings had been taken seriously, the Foxtrot network could have been tackled at an earlier stage.
2 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Despite the Swedish police raising the alarm about the growing Foxtrot gang network back in 2021, the leadership chose not to act. Today, the network is linked to over 30 murders – at least 16 of which were completely unrelated civilians.

The documentary series En gång bröder (Once Brothers) reveals that a special police investigation team identified Foxtrot four years ago as a rapidly expanding group with a high propensity for violence.

According to the head of intelligence at the police, Jale Poljarevius, the group sounded the alarm early on – but the alarm was deprioritized in favor of other gangs.

– If we could turn back time, we would have quickly redirected our efforts in this direction, Poljarevius told state broadcaster SVT, admitting that Foxtrot had long been off the police’s radar.

It was only after several high-profile murders in 2022 that Foxtrot began to come under police scrutiny. According to the documentary, the network has since been linked to over 30 murders, at least 16 of which were innocent civilians with no gang connections.

Rawa Majid Foxtrot Interpol
Rawa Majid is wanted internationally by Interpol. Photo: screenshot/Interpol.int

Division escalates the spiral of violence

The division within Foxtrot in September 2023 marked a new level of violence. One faction, led by the internationally wanted Rawa Majid – also known as “Jordgubben” (Strawberry) – is suspected of, among other things, the murder of Ismail Abdo’s mother, which further escalated the conflict.

During the summer of 2023, Swedish police managed to infiltrate the network using encrypted chat groups such as the Signal app. This breakthrough led to several arrests and indictments against a number of people in Foxtrot’s top echelons, including for particularly serious drug offenses.

Despite this, the violence continues. According to SVT’s information, the network has also expanded to Norway, where Swedish gang crime has become a growing problem.

At the time of writing, National Police Commissioner Anders Thornberg has declined to comment on the investigation.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Facts: The Foxtrot gang network

  • Leader: Rawa Majid, known as “Jordgubben” (Strawberry), wanted by Swedish police and residing in Turkey
  • Start: The network was identified by Swedish police as early as 2021 as an emerging player
  • Activities: Suspected of being behind extensive drug trafficking, extortion, and contract killings
  • Murders: Linked to over 30 murders – at least 16 of the victims were innocent civilians
  • Division: In September 2023, an internal conflict broke out, leading to further acts of violence
  • International spread: Has established a presence in Norway, among other countries
  • Infiltration: Swedish police infiltrated Foxtrot via encrypted chat groups during the summer of 2023

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/police-warn-of-growing-innocent-victims-in-swedens-gang-conflict/

Sweden

Police warn of growing innocent victims in Sweden’s gang conflict

organized crime

Published 12 May 2025
– By Editorial Staff
In many cases, offenders are young, under the influence of drugs and do not know their victims - and there is a high risk of selecting the "wrong" target.
2 minute read
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

It has often been claimed that the victims of criminal gang violence are almost always involved in organized crime themselves. But according to the Swedish police, that picture is now wrong.

Since the beginning of 2023 alone, at least 60 outsiders have been killed or injured in shootings and explosions linked to criminal networks

– This is an effect of the high level of conflict, which has been the case for a number of years. We believe it will continue to be high, August Knutsson, operational coordinator at the police’s national operations center, told Swedish Radio.

According to police figures, 22 outsiders have been killed and another 38 injured in gang-related attacks over the past two and a half years.

In some cases, the violence has been directed against relatives of known criminals – such as relatives or girlfriends – but there are also cases where the wrong person is killed by mistake, or someone is injured simply for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

In 2023 in particular, the number of external victims increased sharply, and although the trend seems to have slowed down somewhat, police have already recorded at least six cases in 2025.

Young people and drug addicts

According to the police, a key explanation for the increase in the number of innocent victims is that the killings and blasts are largely carried out by very young people – often with no previous experience, and sometimes brought in from other cities.

The young perpetrators have no relationship with their victims and often act on vague instructions. In many cases, they have only seen a picture of the target or an address, which increases the risk of misidentification and attacks against the wrong people.

– This is an effect of the fact that many of the perpetrators of these crimes are not part of the conflict itself. Many are young perpetrators who take on different missions. Often under the influence of drugs, with little local knowledge and no individual knowledge, states August Knutsson.

– They’re given a task to carry out, and that results in a high risk of shooting or bombing the wrong target.

“In the past, you did not go to relatives”

One of the more high-profile cases occurred at the end of April this year, when a mother and her young daughter were seriously injured in an explosion at their home. According to prosecutor Daniel Insulander, the attack was aimed at the wrong person.

– They are innocent. In the past, you did not go after relatives or girlfriends. It was very rare that innocent people became victims of something like this.

– Storming into a place and shooting wildly, throwing explosives inside, or trying to burn down a house where innocent people are present – this has become much more common now than just five years ago, he says.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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