Sweden: Pro-Roma activists rally in front of Malmo City Hall after Roma camp eviction

Hundreds of activists rallied outside Malmo's city hall, Tuesday, to protest against the eviction and demolition of a Roma community camp earlier in the day. Several members of the Roma community who were evicted from the site joined the rally, protesting alongside sympathisers. Police formed a cordon in front of the city hall to block the demonstrators, who held banners and chanted anti-racist slogans. Earlier on Tuesday a large camp set up mainly by Roma people in Malmo was evicted and closed by police. Once its inhabitants left, amid a tense atmosphere, excavators and tow trucks were used to demolish the structures of the camp. The camp hosted around 200 people. Last week, Malmo city council's environmental committee agreed that it posed a health risk to both those living there and neighbouring residents. It asked people to leave the camp by 16.00 on Sunday (15.00 GMT) or face eviction, but as police failed to show up over the weekend, some residents decided to remain camped after the deadline.