Post by Teddy Bear on Aug 7, 2012 0:03:02 GMT
I'm trying to imagine what might have been the exchange between the BBC journalist in Stockholm, Sweden, and the BBC editor in London over the weekend regarding the following story.
Sweden: 'Hello, there was a rally today in Stockholm by a group of about 100 anti-Islamists protesting the Islamization of Europe'.
London: 'Was there any violence'?
Sweden: 'Yes there was'.
London: 'Oh Good, what happened'?
Sweden: 'Police were attacked'!
London: 'Terrific, we can really use this story'.
Sweden: 'Yes, but they weren't attacked by the anti-Islamists, but by a group of 400 leftists who had come to heckle the anti-Islamists'.
London: 'Shit!....ok, just forget it happened'.
From AP we get this story, which they may also have preferred to have played differently, but at least they report it.
Sweden: 'Hello, there was a rally today in Stockholm by a group of about 100 anti-Islamists protesting the Islamization of Europe'.
London: 'Was there any violence'?
Sweden: 'Yes there was'.
London: 'Oh Good, what happened'?
Sweden: 'Police were attacked'!
London: 'Terrific, we can really use this story'.
Sweden: 'Yes, but they weren't attacked by the anti-Islamists, but by a group of 400 leftists who had come to heckle the anti-Islamists'.
London: 'Shit!....ok, just forget it happened'.
From AP we get this story, which they may also have preferred to have played differently, but at least they report it.
Violence erupts at anti-Islam protest in Sweden
Swedish riot police clash with demonstrators during an anti-Islam demonstration in central Stockholm Saturday Aug. 4, 2012. Activists protesting an anti-Islam demonstration in downtown Stockholm attacked police in an attempt to break through a police line and get at the rival meeting, police said Saturday. Spokesman Kjell Lendgren said some 400 leftists had gathered to heckle the approximate 100 anti-Islam demonstrators, who were rallying to bring attention to what they perceive is the Islamization of Europe. Swedish riot police clash with demonstrators during an anti-Islam demonstration in central Stockholm Saturday Aug. 4, 2012. Activists protesting an anti-Islam demonstration in downtown Stockholm attacked police in an attempt to break through a police line and get at the rival meeting, police said Saturday. Spokesman Kjell Lendgren said some 400 leftists had gathered to heckle the approximate 100 anti-Islam demonstrators, who were rallying to bring attention to what they perceive is the Islamization of Europe.
STOCKHOLM—Swedish activists clashed with police amid a hail of bottles and fireworks in downtown Stockholm on Saturday as they tried to break through a police line and attack an anti-Islam demonstration.
Police spokesman Kjell Lendgren said around 400 leftists had gathered to heckle the 100-strong demonstration, which was rallying to bring attention to what it perceives is the Islamization of Europe.
He said the leftists shouted and blew vuvuzelas to drown out anti-Islam and nationalist speeches, but then started throwing bottles and lit fireworks at police, injuring two officers.
Lendgren said ten activists were arrested, after which the situation calmed down.
Both the anti-Islam meeting and leftist protest continued peacefully and were scheduled to end at 1600 local (1400GMT).
Nationalist groups such as the English Defence League were instrumental in organizing the anti-Islam event, which was described on the anti-Islam European Freedom Initiative's website as the "first worldwide counter-jihad action."
In the counter protest, local activists called for tolerance and warned of a rise in fascism. They referred to the nationalist groups as "Breivik's foot-soldiers" -- a reference to Norwegian ultra-nationalist Anders Breivik who killed 77 people in Norway last year.
Swedish riot police clash with demonstrators during an anti-Islam demonstration in central Stockholm Saturday Aug. 4, 2012. Activists protesting an anti-Islam demonstration in downtown Stockholm attacked police in an attempt to break through a police line and get at the rival meeting, police said Saturday. Spokesman Kjell Lendgren said some 400 leftists had gathered to heckle the approximate 100 anti-Islam demonstrators, who were rallying to bring attention to what they perceive is the Islamization of Europe. Swedish riot police clash with demonstrators during an anti-Islam demonstration in central Stockholm Saturday Aug. 4, 2012. Activists protesting an anti-Islam demonstration in downtown Stockholm attacked police in an attempt to break through a police line and get at the rival meeting, police said Saturday. Spokesman Kjell Lendgren said some 400 leftists had gathered to heckle the approximate 100 anti-Islam demonstrators, who were rallying to bring attention to what they perceive is the Islamization of Europe.
STOCKHOLM—Swedish activists clashed with police amid a hail of bottles and fireworks in downtown Stockholm on Saturday as they tried to break through a police line and attack an anti-Islam demonstration.
Police spokesman Kjell Lendgren said around 400 leftists had gathered to heckle the 100-strong demonstration, which was rallying to bring attention to what it perceives is the Islamization of Europe.
He said the leftists shouted and blew vuvuzelas to drown out anti-Islam and nationalist speeches, but then started throwing bottles and lit fireworks at police, injuring two officers.
Lendgren said ten activists were arrested, after which the situation calmed down.
Both the anti-Islam meeting and leftist protest continued peacefully and were scheduled to end at 1600 local (1400GMT).
Nationalist groups such as the English Defence League were instrumental in organizing the anti-Islam event, which was described on the anti-Islam European Freedom Initiative's website as the "first worldwide counter-jihad action."
In the counter protest, local activists called for tolerance and warned of a rise in fascism. They referred to the nationalist groups as "Breivik's foot-soldiers" -- a reference to Norwegian ultra-nationalist Anders Breivik who killed 77 people in Norway last year.