Järvafältet is an open field area located next to various no-go zones in the Stockholm area. Today, an Eritrean festival at the location degenerated into a riot as visitors to the festival engaged in fights with critics of the Eritrean regime. The festival has been accused of actively supporting the dictatorial regime in Eritrea. Hundreds were arrested and several people were injured, including police.
The below article from Aftonbladet is translated by Fousesquawk.
https://www.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/a/JQg606/festival-har-sparat-ur-stenkastning-mot-polis
Festival and gathering derailed-rocks thrown at police
By Linnea Nordström, Andreas Bardell, Annica Ögren, Emil Forsberg, Nelly Kronstrand
Updated at 19:07, Posted at 13:56
Chaos broke out at a festival in Järvafältet in Stockholm.
A large number of people fought with rocks and sticks.
Hundreds arrested. At least 55 persons are injured, three of whom are police.
Smoke from fires lies over Järvafältet like a fog.
Tents have been turned over and torn to shreds as garbage is thrown about.
"I don't believe I am in Sweden. I am ashamed. It is unbelievable what is happening here," says a witness to Aftonbladet who is trying to clean up after the chaos.
The Eritrean festival area turned into a battleground when visitors fought with demonstrators who had organized a public gathering in a nearby parking lot.
Rocks were also thrown at police in connection with the violence.
According to the permit, which Aftonbladet has seen, an estimated 400 people took part in the festival.
Several were masked with mouth coverings and armed with wooden sticks.
Police called in massive reinforcements and formed a chain to separate demonstrators from festival visitors.
Several seriously injured
Around 4 pm, police had managed to take control of the situation. Demonstrators were gathered together in clusters around Järvafältet and were taken away in buses.
According to police, hundreds of people were detained. 52 people were also injured, of whom, 7 were being treated in a hospital. Four have suffered serious injuries.
"Three police officers have also been injured. I have no information as to the injuries," says Daniel Wikdahl, police press spokesperson.
Thursday evening, police reported that it is still noisy in the nearby area of Hallonbergen.
"There are fights and disturbances in the area that we suspect have connections to what happened in
Järvafältet."
The regional special health care management section (RSSL) has gone into staff mode due to the violent protests.
"This is a complicated and intensive effort. There are many people moving around the location, and the total damage is as yet unclear," says Patrik Söderberg, head doctor, in a press release.
Criticized for several years
The Eritrean festival has been organized in Järvalfältet since the 1990s but has attracted criticism in recent years that it supposedly supports the regime in Eritrea with money and propaganda.
Similar violence has broken out when festivals are organized in Germany and Norway.
Eritrea has developed into one of the world's strictest dictatorships after liberation from Ethiopia in 1993, and in recent years, the split between those faithful to the regime and critics has become clearer.
Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer (M) is condemning the tumult that broke out at Järvafältet.
"It is unreasonable that Sweden is drawn into other countries' domestic conflicts in this way," he writes in a comment to Aftonbladet and continues:
"Whether one flees violence to Sweden or happens to be here on a visit, you should not engage in violence here. Police resources are needed for other things than keeping different groups from each other."
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