Police operation in central Stockholm – banners with “Aktivklubb”
Updated 21.03 | Published 18.33
The Nazi Aktivklubb was moving in central Stockholm on Saturday evening.
Masked, they walked along the streets of Stockholm and shouted “Sweden for the Swedes”.
– Fuck you, a woman shouted back.
Around 70 people, mainly younger men, walked masked along Stockholm's more fashionable addresses and shouted slogans such as “Proud Swedish nationalist” and “Sweden for the Swedes”.
The right-wing extremist violence-prone Aktivklubb was behind the demonstration. An organization that Säpo had previously warned about.
The police escorted the demonstration that moved from Karlaplan to Riddarholmskyrkan for over an hour.
– It is an unpermitted public gathering on Strandvägen that is moving, says Robert Sennerdal of the Stockholm Police.
“Freedom of expression in Sweden”
An hour into the march, the police are asked why they are not breaking up the demonstration that does not have a permit.
– Everyone has the right to go out into the city. We have freedom of expression in Sweden and you do not need a permit to express your opinions as long as you follow the Public Order Act, says Robert Sennerdal of the police and continues:
– We are monitoring the situation and so far nothing has happened that has given us reason to break this up.
After the demonstration has ended, the police give the same answer. Their report is that it has “passed peacefully”, which has meant that the demonstration has been allowed to continue.
– The report from the officers on site is that it has passed peacefully. We have followed this group from Östermalm to the Old Town and there have been no reported problems, says Robert Sennerdal.
The Stockholm police have previously announced that they were prepared for actions by right-wing extremist groups over the weekend. November 30 is the anniversary of the death of Charles XII, which has traditionally been observed in those circles.
Escorted to the subway
Along the way, surprised people looked on. Some stopped and filmed. Others shouted "No Nazis on our streets". At Kungsträdgården, a woman stood and pointed her middle fingers at the participants.
- Fuck you!
On Strandvägen, however, a man opened his window. He stretched out his right arm and saluted before happily joining in the chorus of voices.
A mother who was walking and holding her daughter's hand stopped and shouted "shame on you".
At Riddarholmskyrkan, just after 7 p.m., the group stopped to take a group photo posing with Bengal lights.
– Hell seger, some of them shout.
The group was then escorted to the Old Town subway.
– From there, they can go wherever they want, said a police officer on site.
Will you follow them on the subway?
– No. We have cameras on the subway that we can follow them through, the police say.
FACTS
Aktivklubb
The right-wing extremist so-called Aktivklubb are part of a larger international movement that started in the United States, outwardly focusing on strength training and martial arts.
The network is inspired by the conspiracy theory of a people exchange and wants to see a strengthened “racial awareness” among whites. A warrior ideal is advocated and members are urged to prepare for a coming race war, according to a report from American extremist researchers in Just Security.
The concept has spread quickly and is now present in at least 20 countries with over 100 groups globally and in most US states, according to the organization The Counter Extremism Project.
In Sweden, it gained traction in 2023 with the network Aktivklubb Sverige, which functions as an umbrella organization for local clubs.
In an intelligence report in the fall of 2023, the police warned that Aktivklubb Sverige “is assessed to have access to weapons and explosives and is actively working to improve its combat capabilities, including through martial arts training,” according to several media outlets.
In June, the Security Service also warned that young people are at risk of being drawn into the right-wing extremist clubs.
According to the Expo Foundation’s annual report for 2024, five groups from Skåne up to Hälsingland are included in Aktivklubb Sverige. The number of activities registered by Expo rose sharply last year.
(TT)
