Complete chaos in my area!

[Randi]

Thanks for your concern - Fister is tougher than I thought, but then, he has witnessed quite a few things around here. He's now under the lamp next to me. I'll be OK.

Things have quietened down now, but they expect it to flare up again later - I guess everyone needs a break.

I'll update you tomorrow. I'm SOO tired!

[BC_MoM]

Wow, how scary! Stay safe, please!

[Pembroke_Corgi]

Oh no, looks scary! I hope you and Fister stay safe.

[Barbara]

Wow and that's Denmark!(as opposite to Afghanistan). Looks as if you cannot accept a situation for tens of years and then suddenly change it.
I hope you and Fister stay safe (and somehow I'm convinced you will be- good that Fister keeps his quiet )

[momoffuzzyfaces]

Gosh, My thoughts and prayers are with you and Fister!
Stay safe my friends!!!

[Randi]

I haven't been able to keep up as I've been working all day. However, it's quiet now, but they expect it to continue all through the weekend.

Here's a little article from Copenhagen News:

After a night of violent protests, the N¯rrebro neighbourhood is clearing away the cobblestones and broken glass
*

With the smell of burnt plastic, wood and other refuse still hanging over the streets of the Nørrebro district, residents and shop keepers are beginning to clean up after a day of violent protests by supporters of the Ungdomshuset youth collective.

The main Nørrebrogade thoroughfare was still closed to cars Friday morning, but cyclists were able to weave their way past melted rubbish bins and charred bike frames set alight by the young people as they reacted to an early morning police action to evict the squatters.

After what police called a 'quiet' afternoon, the riot broke out in earnest when a rally held by supporters moved in against the police, casting cobblestones and erecting baracades across Nørrebrogade and other side streets.

Police arrested 219 people in conjunction with the riots. Another Ungdomshuset rally has been called for this afternoon, and*police have called in reinforcements from throughout the country in expectation of a*new wave clashes.

Sympathy protests were staged in the cities of Aalborg and ?rhus. German police report arresting 14 people in Hamburg in conjunction with protests outside the Danish consulate.

Young people have also reportedly held demonstrations in Oslo, Stockholm, Gothenburg, Flensborg and Vienna in support of the Copenhagen protests.

Danish police have tightened control at its borders in order to prevent foreign protesters from entering the country.


These are pictures people sent in: http://politiken.dk/fotografier/bill...icle254429.ece

Behind the yellow brickwall is the churchyard - I'm on the side of that.

[slick]

Randi, thanks for posting and letting us know you are alright. I took a look at some of those photos and cringed. That must have been so scary for you and Fister.

From what I gather, there was a house full of squatters and the police showed up to kick them out and that caused all the riots and fires?? Seems a little extreme to me but I guess I just don't know the full story yet.

I'll call you on the weekend.

[lizbud]

From what I gather, there was a house full of squatters and the police showed up to kick them out and that caused all the riots and fires?? Seems a little extreme to me but I guess I just don't know the full story yet.

That was my take on this story too. This group claims ownership of the
building because of "squatters rights" or something. I hope you & Fister
can safely stay away from all this.

[Barbara]

According to our newspaper they have not been squatters from the beginning but the city left the house to the youth as early as 1982. Now some years ago they tried to revoke that but couldn't as the people in it didn't agree.
Then they sold it to a church who is now the owner and trying to evict these people.

The chaos scene are very good networkers so riots spread over to Northern Germany- there have been some demonstrations in Hamburg and Hannover to sympathize.

For me it's somehow funny to have it these days- I remember more of it in the 1970s and 1980s.

Hope the TV program is nice this weekend as I would not walk a lot on the streets, these days. And Fister: this weekend you do NOT beg to get out!

[Rachel]

I do hope that all this can be resolved soon by the police and your neighborhood can have peace and serenity for those who have the legitimate right to live there. The concept of *squatters rights* doesn't sit well with me and even if it did, I think the actions taken by these people are deplorable.

[Randi]

Although I can, to a certain extent, sympathise with the kids wanting to keep "their" house I really think they've gone over the top now!! Burning innocent residents cars and totally destroyed a Gymnasium in another part of town. I feel sorry for the elderly and sick people and the poor cats and dogs. They must be so frightened!

I went to bed at 11 and wanted to get some sleep, because I knew something was going to happen later in the night. And yes, I was woken up around 2. Fister heard it of course, he came running to me miawing like crazy to tell me something was going on. Luckily, it's not in streets right where I live, but across the churchyard (6 min. walk) However, it's enough to wake you up.

The police have called in forces from all over Denmark and borrowed huge vans from the Swedish police - a lot of their own have been ruined.

Demonstrations continue this afternoon from various places, so we can expect more of this tonight. Helicopters are circling around again now.

This is what BBC News write today. Under the map, there are more recent pictures.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/6414481.stm

I'm posting a map to show you where it all goes on. On the right side of the lakes is the city center. I live where the red dot is, the youth house is on the blue dot, and the green dot is the square where almost all demonstrations start from, and also where my vet is. The yellow dot is where a lot of it was happening during last night. The streets marked yellow are completely closed off and the whole area is like a war zone! Up to now, about 600 have been arrested.

This is the kids' homepage with info in English.
http://ungdomshuset.dk/en.php3?id_rubrique=4

[gini]

Oh Randi, that is just too close for comfort. And poor Fister coming to wake you up to tell you something is going on.

I hope you stay safe and this can be resolved soon.

[lizbud]

Wow, from the map you can see that you are exactly in the middle of
all this. Does your country have the equivalent of our National Guard?
(Federal troops). It seems near impossible for local police forces to handle
things.

[lizbud]

Randi, I was curious to know if this conflict was ever settled. Is it safe
to go out now?

[Randi]

Thanks for your concern! I'm quite close to it yes, but it has quietened down considerably now. However, I still hear helicopters circling around now and again, which is a nuisance!!

They started knocking the house down monday morning at 8, the workers wore masks so they cound't be recognised and their equipment was painted over, so no one could see which company they came from. They were threatened of course, but they had police protection all the time.

I understand that the kids are "pissed off" that they "their" house has vanished, but I'm dissappointed that they started burning recidents cars and bicyckes etc. They also went in to a Gymnasium in another part of town to burn books and throw computers out of the windows. That was totally out of line!! OK, this was only a small group of them, and most of those have been arrested, I think.

There has also been peaceful demonstrations though.

On this site there are pictures on the right side. From where it says: "Kampen om Jagtvej" and all the way down.

http://politiken.dk/indland/article261594.ece