Swedish police officers block neo-Nazi demonstrators from deviating from a court-ordered route keeping them away from a synagogue in central Gothenburg on Sept. 30. (Tt News Agency/Reuters)

At least 50 people were detained Saturday during a far-right demonstration in Gothenburg, Sweden's second-largest city, that left one police officer and several others injured, according to police reports.

The Nordic Resistance Movement (NRM), a neo-Nazi group founded in Sweden but steadily growing in influence in Finland and Norway, had said on its websites that it expected 1,000 people to march Saturday.

Police placed the number closer to 600, making it the largest neo-Nazi rally in Sweden in recent years.

Black-clad demonstrators bearing shields and waving the group's green-and-white flag marched in the city's center. NMR is known for its openly anti-Semitic stance, and the group had originally sought to pass by a downtown synagogue to coincide with Yom Kippur, the Jewish holy day.

Local activists protested, and a Swedish court intervened to shorten the march route so it would not pass near the synagogue. According to police reports, clashes broke out between police and NRM supporters when marchers attempted to deviate from the court-ordered route.

The rally sparked anxiety about the rise of the far right in Sweden and elsewhere in Europe, and a large counterdemonstration drew about 10,000 people from across the country.

[German far-right leader says Merkel’s refugee policy enabled his party’s rise]

"I am very concerned there will be more rallies like this in the future," said Maxim Thore, an 18-year-old photography student who was among the counterprotesters. "The Nazis said at the protest that they will have a protest like this every Saturday from now on. I know people will always stand against them, but I don't think 10,000 protesters can gather every Saturday."

The counterprotesters clashed with the neo-Nazi marchers, throwing fireworks at the rally and getting into altercations with NMR members who attempted to cross police lines.

Thirty-five people were arrested, including NMR leader Simon Lindberg, police spokeswoman Emelie Kullmyr said.

"Three have been arrested for violence against the police and two others for bearing arms," Kullmyr said.

The night before the protest, 20 people, mostly Danes and Germans, were stopped as they arrived in Sweden to take part in the rally.

Membership in Nazi organizations is not illegal in Sweden. The NMR claims to follow the National Socialist doctrine of Adolf Hitler, and it opposes mass migration and what it calls "a global Zionist elite."

A week before the rally, Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven called for a halt to far-right activity in the country.

"When we now see an escalation of these extremist forces, and we are moving toward a normalization of racist parties, too, then we must do something," Lofven said.

Read more

Right-wing German politician joins chorus urging Trump to ‘tweet less’

How Europe’s far right could defeat itself, and 4 other global stories

The German election was a fault line of east-west tensions, key to the rise of the far right

Today’s coverage from Post correspondents around the world

Like Washington Post World on Facebook and stay updated on foreign news</s>Police officers stop NMR demonstrators from trying to walk along a forbidden street during the Nordic Resistance Movement (NMR) march in central Gothenburg, Sweden September 30, 2017. — Reuters picGOTHENBURG, Sweden, Sept 30 — Dozens of people were arrested today as neo-Nazis and anti-fascists clashed with police during a march by the extreme right-wing Nordic Resistance Movement (NMR) in Gothenburg, Sweden today, police said.

The NMR gathered hundreds of people for the march. Membership in Nazi organisations is not illegal in Sweden and the NMR had a permit from the police to march.

Swedish police said on their website that at least 20 people had been apprehended, and that one police officer had been slightly injured. A police spokesman later told Swedish state television SVT that an additional 10 people had been arrested.

The police anticipated violence and had called in reinforcements from all police districts in Sweden and added 350 temporary jail beds in a police garage. — Reuters</s>GOTHENBURG, Sweden – Dozens of people were arrested on Saturday as neo-Nazis and anti-fascists clashed with police during a march by the extreme right-wing Nordic Resistance Movement (NMR) in Gothenburg, Sweden on Saturday, police said.

The NMR gathered hundreds of people for the march. Membership in Nazi organizations is not illegal in Sweden and the NMR had a permit from the police to march.

Swedish police said on their website that at least 20 people had been apprehended, and that one police officer had been slightly injured. A police spokesman later told Swedish state television SVT that an additional 10 people had been arrested.

The police anticipated violence and had called in reinforcements from all police districts in Sweden and added 350 temporary jail beds in a police garage.</s>Dozens have been arrested according to reports, as the Nordic Resistance Movement (NMR) extremist right-wing group legally marched on Saturday in the southwestern coastal Swedish city.

Hundreds of NMR supporters in black-shirts and heavy black boots marched on Saturday, as membership in a Nazi organization remains legal in Sweden.

Police and NMR members carrying shields clashed after marchers sought to take a route different than what had been planned, resulting in the arrests — including that of the NMR group‘s leader — according to city officials.

Police in Gothenburg documented the arrests of at least 22 people, and noted that one police officer was injured slightly.

Swedish state television SVT reported that an additional 10 people were arrested, citing reports from Gothenburg police.

Police in the city, anticipating violence, called in extra officers from districts around the country, adding some 350 jail beds in a police garage, according to Reuters.

NMR, an extremist Swedish white supremacist group, claims that it is "national socialist," in reference to Nazi party doctrine, and seeks to stem migration into the Scandinavian country while fighting what they claim to be a "global Zionist elite," according to the BBC.</s>The US embassy in Sweden has issued a warning to its citizens ahead of a planned neo-Nazi march in Gothenburg on Saturday. The diplomats said the event could turn violent. The demonstration has been organized by the Nazi group Nordic Resistance Movement (NRM) in Sweden’s second largest city on Saturday afternoon, the Local reports. Several counter-demonstrations had been planned. The US embassy advised American citizens to avoid the area where the march will take place. Previous demonstrations involving the NRM had turned violent, the embassy noted, and urged Americans to “exercise caution” if they found themselves nearby any large protests or demonstrations.</s>A neo-Nazi Nordic Resistance Movement (NMR) demonstration in central Gothenburg has ended, two hours after police permission for the march expired.

The neo-Nazi group was forced to bring its march through Gothenburg to a premature end but has reportedly threatened new demonstrations – possibly without police permission.

A huge effort by police was successful in keeping the NRM and counter protestors separated, although two people are reported injured and 60 detained by police as a result of the day’s events.

Several hundred NRM supporters began the march along the route for which authorities issued permission, but several protestors tried to break out of the designated area near the Ica Focus shopping mall and Svenska Mässan conference centre, which was hosting a Book Fair on Saturday.

Several of the protestors who tried to break through police lines were arrested, including NMR leader Simon Lindberg, reports TT.

Two hours after the demonstration was scheduled to disperse, the NMR, waving banners and surrounded by police, left the area near the Ica Focus shopping mall and Svenska Mässan conference centre in central Gothenburg.

The group returned to the starting point of the march, according to the report.

Road blocks in the city have since been lifted.

The neo-Nazi organisation’s spokesperson Pär Öberg said in the group’s own online broadcast of the demonstration that he regretted that the demonstration could not be completed.

Öberg said that he expected “this will be the last time [NMR] will ask for permission” to demonstrate.

NMR protestors clashed violently with police during the demonstration, shouting slogans such as “race traitor” (folkförrädare) and “Nordic revolution, no pardon” (nordisk revolution, utan pardon).

NMR demonstrators also attacked a group of journalists, forcing them towards a line of empty police busses, according to a report by newspaper Svenska Dagbladet.

At least two people have been injured as result of the day’s unrest.

The number of counter demonstrators far outweighed the amount of NMR supporters, and violent elements of these attacked police on several occasions, including by throwing stones, reports TT.

Counter-protestors rushed at police near the Liseberg Amusement Park, with horses deployed to keep them under control. According to a statement on the police website, stones were thrown during that flashpoint with a number of people held by police near the main entrance to the amusement park.

“In connection with the disturbances at Liseberg, where we moved away counter-demonstrators, stones were thrown, resulting in injury to one civilian. The person was hit by an object and has been taken to hospital by ambulance,” police press spokesperson Peter Adlersson said.

A police officer was also taken to hospital with minor injuries earlier in the day.

NMR leader Simon Lindberg has been arrested on suspicion of assault, reports newspaper Expressen.

“Simon Lindberg participated at the beginning of the unrest and is suspected of violent unrest and assaulting a police officer,” police press spokesperson Hans Lippens told the newspaper.

Several people, including foreign citizens, were detained prior to the demonstration by police in Gothenburg and other parts of Sweden on suspicion of intending to carry out assault.</s>GOTHENBURG, Sweden (Reuters) – Dozens of people were arrested on Saturday as neo-Nazis and anti-fascists clashed with police during a march by the extreme right-wing Nordic Resistance Movement (NMR) in Gothenburg, Sweden on Saturday, police said.</s>The march is set to be the biggest in the Nordic Resistance Movement’s (NRM) history with thousands of people from across the world expected to attend. Swedish police has already arrested several demonstrators ahead of the protest, which has been dubbed the “revolt against the traitors”. According to Aftonbladet, the police are on high alert as a number of violent protesters - both extreme right and left wing - are expected to attend.

Police are using horses to keep the demonstrators and counter-protesters apart. Stefan Gustafson, police press spokesman in the Western region, told Expressen GT: “We will use as many horses as we can, but they will only be used if there is reason to do so. “Horses are very effective in separating crowds and making groups take distance from each other.” The Swedish security police (Säpo) considers the NRM to be the most dangerous neo-Nazi group in Sweden.

The neo-Nazi movement has several hundred members in Sweden, with an unknown number of members in both Norway and Finland. According to reports, the group uses secret chatrooms to discuss how new members will receive weapon training. Some members are said to have received weapons training through military service for the Swedish military. Säpo and Norwegian security service PST are closely watching the group. Six Alsén, senior advisor in Pst, told VG: “We are closely following the development in Norway and the Nordic countries.”

NRM has, on its affiliated websites, written that the demonstration will be “massive and epic”. Opponents of the group, including several Norwegian left-wing groups, have announced they will mobilise against the march. Organisations Motmakt and Antifascistic Action will send busses from Oslo on Saturday, while they also expect protesters from Denmark and Finland to join in. The NRM has been granted permission to march between 1pm and 3pm in Gothenburg today.</s>NMR members marching in Gothenburg with a banner advertising the September demonstration. Photo: TT

The US Embassy in Sweden has issued a warning to its citizens ahead of a planned neo-Nazi march in Gothenburg on Saturday, warning that the event could turn violent.

The demonstration has been organized by the Nazi group Nordic Resistance Movement (NRM) in Sweden's second largest city on Saturday afternoon. Several counter demonstrations are also planned.

The US Embassy advised American citizens to avoid the area where the march was scheduled to take place, saying: "Even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence."

It noted that previous demonstrations involving the NRM had turned violent, and urged Americans to "exercise caution" if they found themselves nearby any "large gatherings, protests, or demonstrations" in the city centre.

Extra police have been sent to the city ahead of the march, including uniformed officers and others in civilian clothing.

READ ALSO: Why 2016 saw a surge of neo-Nazi activity in Sweden

The city centre is expected to be particularly busy on Saturday due to several other events taking place, including the annual Book Fair and a football match, and its timing as the first Saturday after pay day.

The march also coincides with the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur – a day of atonement observed by fasting and praying – and the route was initially planned to pass close to a Gothenburg synagogue.

However, earlier this week a local court changed the route, cutting its total length by almost half, citing risks to public order and security. Marchers will no longer be allowed to pass by the synagogue or to gather outside the location of the Book Fair.

The NMR, set up in 1997, promotes an openly racist and anti-Semitic doctrine, and its growing popularity in Sweden has caused concern in neighbouring Norway.

Earlier in the month, about 50 members of extremist group marched through the centre of Gothenburg, an event for which the group did not have a permit. According to media reports, a minor fight broke out between some of the protesters and a counter-demonstrator, but police quickly intervened and did not make any arrests.

ANALYSIS: Why Trump's false claims are bad news for Sweden</s>Three people have been arrested and several others detained by police in Gothenburg prior to a neo-Nazi demonstration in the city Saturday.

Two foreign citizens were arrested at Gothenburg’s Landvetter Airport on Friday night after knives were found in their luggage. The two were arrested on suspicion of planning assault, the Swedish police confirmed in a message posted on its website.

A further seven foreign nationals have been taken into custody and a third person was arrested at Gothenburg Central Station, also on suspicion of planning violent acts, reports news agency TT.

Police have also taken action in other parts of Sweden in connection with the demonstration due to be held by the neo-Nazi Nordic Resistance Movement (NMR) in Gothenburg on Saturday.

In Helsingborg, a foreign citizen was arrested on board a bus after hitting a policeman in the face.

Nine foreign nationals have been detained and one ejected from the country under Sweden’s Foreign Citizens Law (Utlänningslagen) provision for foreign nationals, according to the report.

Gothenburg city centre is expected to be particularly busy on Saturday due to several other events taking place, including the annual Book Fair and a football match, and its timing as the first Saturday after pay day.

The march also coincides with the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur – a day of atonement observed by fasting and praying – and the route was initially planned to pass close to a Gothenburg synagogue.

However, earlier this week a local court changed the route, cutting its total length by almost half, citing risks to public order and security. Marchers will no longer be allowed to pass by the synagogue or to gather outside the location of the Book Fair.



 The route of the march (red) and the route prior to the court ruling which forced it to be shortened (dotted). Graphic: TT

Police in Gothenburg were on Saturday morning present at the designated meeting point of the NMR prior to its planned march, reports TT.

Several other locations in the city are already under police surveillance and roadblocks have been put in place, according to the report.



 Some businesses on the march route have chosen to board up windows prior to the demonstration. Photo: Jonas Dagson/TT

The NMR, set up in 1997, promotes an openly racist and anti-Semitic doctrine, and its growing popularity in Sweden has caused concern in neighbouring Norway.

Earlier in the month, about 50 members of extremist group marched through the centre of Gothenburg, an event for which the group did not have a permit. According to media reports, a minor fight broke out between some of the protesters and a counter-demonstrator, but police quickly intervened and did not make any arrests.

READ ALSO: Why 2016 saw a surge of neo-Nazi activity in Sweden
About 600 members of the Swedish neo-Nazi group Nordic Resistance Movement march through Gothenburg, and 10,000 people hold a counter-demonstration. More than 50 people are arrested and several people are injured during the protests.