The Metro station in Rinkeby in north Stockholm was closed twice during Christmas due to gangs of young people shooting rockets inside the ticket hall according to Svenska dagbladet (svd)
(Photo: Wikipedia communs)
SL (Stockholm Public Transports) says that the security of the staff and other travellers could not be guaranteed. The gang were shooting rockets and throwing crackers directly aimed at people. The station closed at 10.30 pm on Christmas Day and at 6 pm on Boxing Day (the 26th of December). This created problems for families on their way to or from Christmas dinners and for people working on these hours. No extra busses were operating, the passengers had to take the ordinary departures or walk to the next metro station.
The decision to close the station has been criticised. Svenska dagbladet writes in an editorial article today that it is like capitulating for the violence and for the criminal gangs. Svd Writes: ‘What shall a parent in Rinkeby answer when their child asks who really have the power in Sweden?’
Svd wants more policemen present in Rinkeby and other suburbs with similar problems while travellers who are interviewed in the same newspaper talk about that there has to be more activities for young people at night so they have other things to do. Others talk about making it more difficult to buy rockets.