This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/news/395098-swedish-music-festival-rape/
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| ‘Not f**ing okay’: Swedish music festival canceled after spate of rape cases | ‘Not f**ing okay’: Swedish music festival canceled after spate of rape cases |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Organizers of Sweden’s Bråvalla annual music festival have decided to call off the 2018 event after this year’s festival was marred by sexual violence. Police say they are looking into over a dozen reports of molestation and at least four cases of rape. | Organizers of Sweden’s Bråvalla annual music festival have decided to call off the 2018 event after this year’s festival was marred by sexual violence. Police say they are looking into over a dozen reports of molestation and at least four cases of rape. |
| READ MORE: 38 reports of sexual assault at music festival in Sweden | READ MORE: 38 reports of sexual assault at music festival in Sweden |
| Swedish police have confirmed they are investigating four potential rapes and some 22 counts of molestation reported on the grounds of the three-day musical festival, which concluded July 1 near the southern Swedish town of Norrkoping. | Swedish police have confirmed they are investigating four potential rapes and some 22 counts of molestation reported on the grounds of the three-day musical festival, which concluded July 1 near the southern Swedish town of Norrkoping. |
| A teenage girl was reportedly sexually assaulted at the festival during a concert by local musician Håkan Hellström on Friday, police said Saturday, adding that they are also looking into multiple reports of molestation. | |
| As news of the incident hit the headlines, the company in charge of the festival, FKP Scorpio, issued a statement, denouncing the violence and announcing that the event was being canceled next year. | As news of the incident hit the headlines, the company in charge of the festival, FKP Scorpio, issued a statement, denouncing the violence and announcing that the event was being canceled next year. |
| "Words cannot describe how incredibly sad we are about this, and we most seriously regret and condemn this. This is not f**ing okay. We do not accept this at our festival," the statement reads. | "Words cannot describe how incredibly sad we are about this, and we most seriously regret and condemn this. This is not f**ing okay. We do not accept this at our festival," the statement reads. |
| Saying that they have done “everything in our power,” to prevent sexual violence at the festival, the organizers argued that the problem itself goes far beyond Bråvalla and music festivals in general, and concerns Sweden as a whole. | Saying that they have done “everything in our power,” to prevent sexual violence at the festival, the organizers argued that the problem itself goes far beyond Bråvalla and music festivals in general, and concerns Sweden as a whole. |
| “It is a huge social problem that affects every part of our society. Absolutely not just festivals. There are about a hundred rapes every day in Sweden and it is a challenge that society has to face,” the organizers said. | “It is a huge social problem that affects every part of our society. Absolutely not just festivals. There are about a hundred rapes every day in Sweden and it is a challenge that society has to face,” the organizers said. |
| The company denied media reports that event’s cancellation was triggered by financial losses it suffered last year and not security or ethical concerns. | The company denied media reports that event’s cancellation was triggered by financial losses it suffered last year and not security or ethical concerns. |
| "Obviously, it's not good financially to run a festival associated so strongly with violence and insecurity. But to say that we use violence as an excuse for not doing it next year is remarkable and cynical speculation," the company said in a press release, cited by Expressen. | "Obviously, it's not good financially to run a festival associated so strongly with violence and insecurity. But to say that we use violence as an excuse for not doing it next year is remarkable and cynical speculation," the company said in a press release, cited by Expressen. |
| Sex crime allegations, meanwhile, continued to pile up, with police announcing Sunday that another three women had reported incidents to law enforcement. | Sex crime allegations, meanwhile, continued to pile up, with police announcing Sunday that another three women had reported incidents to law enforcement. |
| READ MORE: Swedish veteran cop rants about immigrant crimes on Facebook, ignites nationwide row | READ MORE: Swedish veteran cop rants about immigrant crimes on Facebook, ignites nationwide row |
| A woman told officers she had been attacked by two men on a road leading from the festival camp and gang raped on Saturday night, according to police spokesman Thomas Agnevik, cited by Expressen. | A woman told officers she had been attacked by two men on a road leading from the festival camp and gang raped on Saturday night, according to police spokesman Thomas Agnevik, cited by Expressen. |
| Another alleged victim said she was also raped at the time the Håkan Hellström concert was taking place at the festival. Police believe there is no link between her case and that of the first victim, save from the same time and venue. | Another alleged victim said she was also raped at the time the Håkan Hellström concert was taking place at the festival. Police believe there is no link between her case and that of the first victim, save from the same time and venue. |
| In a fourth case, a woman complained to police of a consensual sexual encounter going horribly wrong, when a male partner refused to stop despite her pleas. | In a fourth case, a woman complained to police of a consensual sexual encounter going horribly wrong, when a male partner refused to stop despite her pleas. |
| So far, police have not identified suspects in any of the cases, but commended the decision by the organizers to put the event on hold. | So far, police have not identified suspects in any of the cases, but commended the decision by the organizers to put the event on hold. |
| “It is my personal opinion that if you cannot carry out festival without there being a crime victim, there should not be a festival,” Agnevik, the police spokesman, told Expressen. | “It is my personal opinion that if you cannot carry out festival without there being a crime victim, there should not be a festival,” Agnevik, the police spokesman, told Expressen. |
| Commenting on the spate of violence at the festival, Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven called the reported crimes “disgusting acts” that must be stopped. | Commenting on the spate of violence at the festival, Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven called the reported crimes “disgusting acts” that must be stopped. |
| READ MORE: Leading Swedish mall turned into ‘no-go zone’ by migrant teen gangs – report | READ MORE: Leading Swedish mall turned into ‘no-go zone’ by migrant teen gangs – report |
| Jan Björklund, leader of Sweden’s Liberal People's Party, also condemned the attacks, describing them as “atrocious events.” | Jan Björklund, leader of Sweden’s Liberal People's Party, also condemned the attacks, describing them as “atrocious events.” |
| “Festivals should be a place of joy – for everyone. It will require strong action from the community, organizers, police, parents and from us if we are to put an end to sexual violence against women,” he said on Sunday. | “Festivals should be a place of joy – for everyone. It will require strong action from the community, organizers, police, parents and from us if we are to put an end to sexual violence against women,” he said on Sunday. |
| The festival had attracted notoriety for its history of rape incidents. Last year, it courted controversy after five rapes and a number of assault and groping incidents were reported to police. | The festival had attracted notoriety for its history of rape incidents. Last year, it courted controversy after five rapes and a number of assault and groping incidents were reported to police. |