‘Antisemitism in Scandinavia Has Reached a Terrifying Peak, With Jewish Communities Under Grave Threat’

Three banners bearing Nazi swastikas were hung on a tunnel portal of a main thoroughfare outside the Swedish capital of Stockholm on Sunday, in a disturbing incident that further raised concerns for the safety of the country’s Jewish community amid an ongoing surge of antisemitism.

The occurrence took place on April 20th, the birthday of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler —  a date that often sees neo-Nazi provocations across the globe.

Police were notified and quickly removed the banners from above the Essingeleden highway, which connects Stockholm with neighboring Solna to the northwest.

Mats Eriksson, a police spokesperson, said the incident was being investigated on suspicion of “incitement against an ethnic group.”

Stockholm traffic report ⚠️ Drive with caution: OPEN NAZISM displayed overhead. This is NOT 1940…how is this still happening??

Credit: @Osint613 pic.twitter.com/Vo1MilJjP7

— Combat Antisemitism Movement (@CombatASemitism) April 20, 2025

Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) Chief Operating Officer Yigal Nisell — whose grandfather and uncle served as past leaders of the Jewish community in Sweden — called the incident “bizarre and outrageous, but unfortunately not surprising.”

“Today, in Sweden in particular and Scandinavia more generally, antisemitism has reached a terrifying peak, with Jewish communities under grave threat,” Nisell noted. “The neo-Nazi movements in these countries, as well as other extremist elements, are responsible for levels of antisemitic hate crimes, including acts of bullying, harassment, vandalism, and physical violence, not seen in Europe since the 1940s.”

“I’m in regular contact with my family in Sweden and other Jewish community members, and I hear from them how fragile their sense of persona security has become,” Nisell, who lives in Israel, added. “I call on Swedish authorities to find those responsible for this criminal act and deal with it severely. Otherwise, radical forces will continue to attack Jews — and later other Swedes.”

Read More: Do Jews Have a Future in Scandinavian Countries Amid Heavy Antisemitism?