Police stop Palestine demonstration in central Stockholm
Police halted a planned pro-Palestine demonstration in central Stockholm on Saturday. Several people were arrested following gatherings outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The event proceeded without a permit, according to police.
On Saturday, October 14, a group of demonstrators gathered in central Stockholm to show support for Palestine, focusing on the situation in Gaza. According to Aftonbladet, the group planned a march from Norrmalmstorg, but police intervened early and halted the demonstration due to a lack of permits. Police reported that the organizers had not applied for or been granted a police permit in advance, which is required for public assemblies in Sweden.
Multiple sources, including Expressen and SVT Nyheter, confirm that around a dozen people were arrested outside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (UD) on Gustavsbergsgatan. The arrests occurred after demonstrators attempted to gather despite police orders to disperse. A police spokesperson, Ulf Götessson, is quoted in Expressen: "We have arrested a number of people for disobeying the public order act." No serious violent incidents were reported, but police maintained a strong presence to prevent assemblies.
The background to the demonstration ties into the escalating conflict in the Middle East, particularly Israel's military operations in Gaza following the Hamas attack on October 7. The organizers, linked to pro-Palestinian groups, aimed to protest what they describe as violations of international law. Police refer to the Swedish Public Order Act, which requires permits to ensure public safety.
No conflicting reports emerge from the sources; all describe a similar number of arrests, around 10-15 people, and confirm no march took place. The demonstrators were released later in the day after questioning. The event reflects growing polarization around the Israel-Palestine issue in Sweden, where previous demonstrations have also led to arrests due to permit issues.