Distress in Rosengård

For a couple of days, Rosengård has been in turmoil after a mosque was closed down. There has been arson attacks, stones thrown, and even fireworks aimed and directed towards the police. I am quite disturbed by the current development, being a former resident of the area.

The question that always comes up in situations like this is how much force the police are allowed to use and if they are in any case using unnecessary force? According to people who have been interviewed, some teenagers and kids have been sprayed down with pepper spray and some have been beaten down with batons. This is being said to be too much force and the demonstrators retaliate with stones, homemade bombs and fireworks to make a stand.

In a situation like this, you do question people's statements as people are obviously trying to put their own side as the side being right and that the actions they are taking are justified. The general idea, especially amongst immigrant population in Malmö is that you never stand on the police side. I however, want to question that. Is the police really using unnecessary force? If you were the police and you were being shot at with fireworks, being attacked with stones, would you not try to ensure your own safety? Even if a 15 year old kid was the perpetrator, would you consider pepperspray to be excessive?

The situation has escalated to the point where a lot of people are either saying appease the demonstrators and give them what they want, whereas the other side argues for a military intervention. We can only wait and see I guess...