An aggressive pro-palestinian activist attacked Sweden Democrat MP Jessica Stegrud as she leaving Parliament on Wednesday. The woman activist, wearing a keffiyeh and sunglasses, tried taking Stegrud’s phone, hitting the MP in the process, pushed her, and got right up in her face, threatening her by screaming, “I’m going to take down your f***ing … your whole f***ing d**n family, you f***ing disgusting freak.”
The protester was part of a group that for the past few days had demonstrated against Israel right outside Riksdagen, the Swedish parliament, including by glorifying terrorist groups and chanting hate against Jews.
“Completely unprovoked,” Jessica Stegrud posted on X. “Attacked as an elected official, outside my own workplace. … this has to end”
Questions have been raised following the attack regarding how the protester was able to get that close to an elected official—especially considering that several police officers present at the scene did not intervene.
Journalist Nick Alinia, who had caught the attack on video, showed it to the officers, asking them if a member of parliament ought not to be protected right outside her workplace. “Well we’re not going to detain someone for just hitting on the hand like that,” one of the officers responded. “I mean, she’s not like the king, you know? She’s a normal human.”
The demonstrators had not applied for a permit but the manifestation was considered too insignificant to warrant intervention from law enforcement. After the attack on Stegrud, protesters were relocated to a nearby town square.
Stegrud has reported the incident to police. But while SD is demanding increased protection for MPs, other parties view the protesters as “harmless,” said Niklas Rubbestad, SD’s deputy group leader in parliament.
“It was just words this time,” Rubbestad said. “Who says it won’t be a knife next time?”
PM Ulf Kristersson commented on X:
Threatening and harassing democratically elected politicians is also a threat to democracy, and it has no place in our country. A heavy responsibility now rests on those who, by spreading lies, glorifying terrorism, and promoting antisemitism, polarize and stir up hateful sentiments in Sweden. Do not bring the conflicts of the Middle East to the streets and squares of Sweden.
