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Assignment: Sweden’s Angry Suburbs

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Sweden’s Angry Suburbs

04/07/2013

BBC World Service - Assignment, Sweden’s Angry Suburbs

Why did Stockholm’s suburbs erupt into violence at the end of May?

When riots break out in Swedish suburbs, the world raises its eyebrows. How is arson, violence and racism possible in this most perfect of Scandinavian societies? Tim Mansel reports from Husby, the suburb of Stockholm where the riots started at the end of May. 

He is given a tour by a local activist who has lived there for 40 years and who blames the government's dismantling of the welfare state for Husby's problems. He hears accusations of police racism and thuggery towards a largely immigrant community. 

He walks the streets with one of Sweden's African police officers, who has had personal experience of racism and is frustrated at the lack of resources available for proper neighbourhood policing.

 (Image: Firemen extinguish a burning car after youths rioted in different suburbs around the Stockholm suburb of Husby. Credit: AFP/Getty Images)

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