About this informs “Public”.
The day before, thousands of pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel protesters demanded that Israel be banned from participating in the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö, Sweden. Greta Thunberg was also present at the protest.
Today, May 11, the rally near the Malmö Arena stadium was repeated, but already before the Eurovision 2024 final, at which the representative of Israel performed.
During today’s action, the police detained the activist Greta Thunberg. Details have not yet been released.
Eurovision 2024 and security measures
In early May, the European Broadcasting Union announced that anyone trying to bring a Palestinian flag or a sign with political content to the Eurovision Song Contest would be stopped by security guards at the entrance. Pro-Palestinian activists who want Israel out of the song contest have announced mass rallies in central Malmo, a few kilometers from the Malmo Arena.
Despite protests and official appeals to the European Broadcasting Union, Israel is participating in Eurovision. But tensions are high in the city, so Israel’s National Security Council has warned Israelis planning to visit Malmö not to reveal their identities, display Israeli symbols or speak Hebrew loudly.
The Swedish police, in turn, resorted to unprecedented measures. For the first time, Eurovision will be guarded by c-UAS mobile missile systems to counter unmanned aerial systems that will cover the skies over Malmö. The so-called Scandinavian reinforcement is also working – policemen from Denmark and Norway have additionally arrived to guard everything: from the arena to events, hotels and demonstrations.
At the same time, Malmö police assured that they will strengthen security measures.