Sweden's Migrant No-Go Zones May No Longer Be Emergency Ambulance Assistance

Violence against medical workers in some areas of Sweden is becoming so commonplace that a “protection ban” may be instituted on no-go zones of Stockholm featuring large migrant populations hostile to the authorities. In practice, this will mean ambulance drivers will refuse to go to certain addresses without police or rescue services to protect them.

“We’re worried that someone will get killed if nothing happens,” says specialist nurse Linda Orrvik.

The problem has been going on for years. For example, the Kvartal television program ran an extensive segment covering the issue already in 2018; it featured two paramedics describing the difficulties they face working in no-go areas.

“For example, we go to places where gun violence occurs, places where there are weapons and narcotics, and places where there are other rules than the rule of law we’re used to, that’s the difference,” said Henrik Johansson, a paramedic since 1990.

Over the decades he has worked, he says the situation has sharply deteriorated in the last five to 10 years.

“It’s a balancing act. When we started talking about this issue 10, 15 years ago, when we started discussing this, we were quite often laughed at. We were called nasty things,” said Johannson. The interviewer then asked him: “Racists?” He responded, “Yes, among other things.”

Gordon Trattidge, the chairman of the Ambulance Alarm Group and the paramedics’ trade union, echoed Johannson’s sentiment, saying, “The incidents are more frequent and the violence is now more brutal. There’s also a more disrespectful attitude towards public services where one doesn’t respect who we are.” 

https://rmx.news/sweden/were-worried-someone-will-get-killed-swedish-ambulance-workers-threaten-to-stop-serving-no-go-zones/