Old Video Shared as Recent Visuals of Violent Protest Against Israel in Sweden

The incident of protest in Sweden dates back to 2009 and shows anti-Israel protestors clashing with the police.

Abhishek Anand
WebQoof
Published:
<div class="paragraphs"><p>Fact-Check | The video is of violent protest in Sweden is old and is being falsely shared as a recent incident.</p></div>
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Fact-Check | The video is of violent protest in Sweden is old and is being falsely shared as a recent incident.

(Photo: Altered by The Quint)

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A video of a mob attacking several police convoys is being shared to claim that it shows pro-Gaza protestors destroying property in Sweden because an Israeli singer participated in Eurovision.

What have users said?: Those sharing the video have said, "Pro-Gazan Muslim migrants who were given shelter in Sweden are destroying Swedish tax payers’ property because an Israeli singer took part in Eurovision. The Israeli singer was given 100 policemen + helicopter security to reach the venue safe."

An archive of the post can be accessed here.

(Source: X (formerly Twitter)/Screenshot)

The post had garnered over 4.6 lakh views on the platform. More archives of similar claims can be viewed here, here, and here.

What is the truth?: The video could be traced back to 2009, when anti-Israel activists clashed with the police in Sweden during a tennis match between the latter and Israel in a Davis Cup match.

What led us to the truth?: Using the help of Google Lens, we performed a reverse image search and came across a longer version of the video shared on an unverified YouTube channel.

  • The video was published on 12 March 2009 and its title when translated to English said, "The police drew guns during the riots - Left-wing activists."

  • Another round of reverse image search directed us to a clearer version of the viral clip on the channel of a Swedish website named 'Sydsvenskan'.

  • It was published on 15 May 2009 and its description when loosely translated to English said, "During the Davis Cup tennis in Malmö, a demonstration degenerated. Hooligans destroyed police cars."

The video was uploaded in May 2009.

(Source: Sydsvenskan/Screenshot)

News reports: A report published in CBC News said many anti-Israeli protestors clashed with police in Sweden during a tennis match between the latter and Israel.

  • The protestors were seen hurling firecrackers and rocks at police vans as they were trying to storm the arena where the match was taking place.

  • According to the police, at least five people were detained from the clash site.

The report was published on 7 March 2009.

(Source: CBC News/Screenshot)

  • A Reuters report added that hundreds of left-wing militants joined a peaceful pro-Palestinian demonstration which later turned violent.

  • Around 200 militants pelted stones and paint bombs at the police, while organisers of the official demonstration asked the masked protestors not to use violence.

  • Team WebQoof found several images from the incident that were available on stock image website 'Alamy'. You can view them here.

About protests against Eurovision: Thousands of people protested in Sweden's Malmo against Israel's participation in the Eurovision song competition, Al Jazeera reported. The protests saw people raising Palestinian flags and shouting slogans at Eurovision.

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Conclusion: It is clear that a 13-year-old video of a clash in Sweden is being shared on the internet as a recent incident.

(Not convinced of a post or information you came across online and want it verified? Send us the details on WhatsApp at 9540511818 , or e-mail it to us at webqoof@thequint.com and we'll fact-check it for you. You can also read all our fact-checked stories here.)

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