The Minister Fled the Tomato Attack - Three Released

Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (M) had to flee a debate in the Riksdag. A bag of tomatoes and onions was thrown from the stands and landed a few meters from her. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) demands forceful measures.

» Updated: October 05 2024

» Published: October 03 2024

The Minister Fled the Tomato Attack - Three Released
Photo: Riksdagen/TT

According to information provided to TT, it was a bag of tomatoes and red onions that was thrown during the interpellation debate held on Thursday afternoon. Three people, a 35-year-old man and two 45-year-old women, were taken into custody for disturbing the proceedings and removed from the premises. They were later released.

In a video clip from the debate, people in the gallery can be heard shouting. Then, Malmer Stenergard quickly gets up from his seat and hurries out of the chamber.

Stop Israel, they are terrorists, someone shouts.

Shortly afterwards, someone can be heard shouting:

Coward is running.

In a written comment to TT, the Foreign Minister thanks people for their concern after the incident.

"You must be able to have a parliamentary debate without having things thrown at you. It is fundamental to democratic dialogue," she writes.

Tomatoes hidden in clothing

The debate, which concerned Sweden's decision to abstain from voting in the UN's vote on Israel and the West Bank, was interrupted. The Speaker decided around 3 pm to cancel the rest of the debate. It was Palestine activists with red-painted hands who threw the bag, according to Member of Parliament Ann-Sofie Alm (M).

It flew over the members sitting in the chamber and landed two seats behind the Foreign Minister, she says.

It's sad that they do this, because we have an open democracy and we fight for an open democracy.

According to information provided to TT, the individuals had likely hidden the tomatoes under their clothing when they passed through the parliament's security check.

"Forceful measures"

Joachim Pettersson at the parliament administration does not comment on what was thrown but says it was not detected in the security check.

Some form of smuggling has taken place here. You're not even allowed to bring a bottle of water into the gallery, the only thing you're allowed to bring is a notebook.

The parliament administration and the Government Offices take a very serious view of the incident.

This is criminal, says Pettersson.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson writes in a comment to TT that he is proud of his Foreign Minister and now wants to see forceful measures:

"I now expect a thorough analysis of how this could happen and forceful measures to maintain the security of members of parliament and government ministers in the chamber."

Tags

TTT
By TTThis article has been altered and translated by Sweden Herald

More news

Police Car and Fire Truck
1 MIN READ

Police Car and Fire Truck Crash on E4 Injures Officers

Europol Looks to Sweden for
2 MIN READ

Europol Looks to Sweden for Tackling Digital Gang Crime

Woman Dies After Clothes Catch
1 MIN READ

Woman Dies After Clothes Catch Fire in Strömstad Residence

Spring Warmth to Sweep Sweden
1 MIN READ

Spring Warmth to Sweep Sweden with Temperatures Over 20 Degrees

Prehistoric Wasp Used Plant-Like Trap
3 MIN READ

Prehistoric Wasp Used Plant-Like Trap to Capture Prey, Study Reveals

Turkey Accuses Swedish Journalist of
3 MIN READ

Turkey Accuses Swedish Journalist of Terrorism and Anti-Turkish Reporting

Elderly Woman Airlifted After Clothes
1 MIN READ

Elderly Woman Airlifted After Clothes Catch Fire at Swedish Hospital

Swedes Struggle as Food Prices
4 MIN READ

Swedes Struggle as Food Prices Soar: 200 Kronor Gift Cards Run Out

Police Push for Expanded Surveillance
3 MIN READ

Police Push for Expanded Surveillance Powers on Minors in Sweden

Siblings in Sweden Marvel at
1 MIN READ

Siblings in Sweden Marvel at Rare Solar Eclipse with Welding Masks

Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Expected
2 MIN READ

Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Expected to Be Released Soon in Turkey

Police Struggle to Keep Up
3 MIN READ

Police Struggle to Keep Up as Online Radicalization Surges

Witness the Partial Solar Eclipse
3 MIN READ

Witness the Partial Solar Eclipse on March 29: How to Safely Watch

Body Discovered After Gislaved Apartment
1 MIN READ

Body Discovered After Gislaved Apartment Fire; Police Investigate

Teen Convicted in Skärholmen Tunnel
1 MIN READ

Teen Convicted in Skärholmen Tunnel Murder Appeals 14-Year Sentence

Key Figures Depart Following Millennium
1 MIN READ

Key Figures Depart Following Millennium System Halt in Västra Götaland

Teen Arrested After Man Shot
1 MIN READ

Teen Arrested After Man Shot in Gothenburg Residential Area

Two Arrested After Gunfire Hits
1 MIN READ

Two Arrested After Gunfire Hits Apartments in Arlöv Near Malmö

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Five Hospitalized Following Serious Car Crash Near Surahammar

Sweden Sets Clocks Forward for
1 MIN READ

Sweden Sets Clocks Forward for Summertime Transition

Man in His 70s Dies
1 MIN READ

Man in His 70s Dies in Drowning Accident in Jämtland

Facebook Revives Friend Feed to
1 MIN READ

Facebook Revives Friend Feed to Reconnect Users

Sweden Redirects 158 Million Kronor
1 MIN READ

Sweden Redirects 158 Million Kronor Aid to Myanmar Earthquake Relief

Fegen Residents Advised to Boil
1 MIN READ

Fegen Residents Advised to Boil Water Due to Waterworks Issue

Swedish Journalist's Arrest in Turkey
2 MIN READ

Swedish Journalist's Arrest in Turkey Sparks Global Outcry

EU License Changes May Impact
4 MIN READ

EU License Changes May Impact Swedish A-Tractor Rules for Teens

Sixth Suspect Linked to December
1 MIN READ

Sixth Suspect Linked to December Murder in Växjö

Man in Custody After Shooting
1 MIN READ

Man in Custody After Shooting at Police in Karlshamn

Swedish IS Terrorist Osama Krayem
1 MIN READ

Swedish IS Terrorist Osama Krayem Detained for Serious War Crimes

25 Charged in Sweden for
2 MIN READ

25 Charged in Sweden for Defrauding Elderly of Millions

Swedish Court to Decide on
2 MIN READ

Swedish Court to Decide on Alleged Birth Intervention Without Consent

18-Year-Old Faces Charges for Nine
1 MIN READ

18-Year-Old Faces Charges for Nine Attempted Murders in Malmö

Person Dies After Falling from
1 MIN READ

Person Dies After Falling from Ship Near Göteborg

Kristersson Faces New Inquiry Over
1 MIN READ

Kristersson Faces New Inquiry Over Alleged Political Bias in Government

Students Call for Better Sex
1 MIN READ

Students Call for Better Sex and Consent Education in Swedish Schools

Police and Prison Uniforms Illegally
1 MIN READ

Police and Prison Uniforms Illegally Sold on Sellpy, Investigation Reveals

Molotov Cocktail Attack on Uddevalla
1 MIN READ

Molotov Cocktail Attack on Uddevalla Mosque Sparks Arson Investigation

Sis CEO Responds to Criticism:
2 MIN READ

Sis CEO Responds to Criticism: Report Key to Improving Child Care

Man Sentenced to 10 Years
1 MIN READ

Man Sentenced to 10 Years for Stabbing Girlfriend in Västerås

Report Highlights Failures in Sweden's
3 MIN READ

Report Highlights Failures in Sweden's Treatment of Detained Children