Charges Filed Against Driver Involved in Gaza Protest Incident in Borås

On August 10 of the previous year, a legally sanctioned demonstration supporting Gaza took place in the heart of Borås. As the demonstrators made their way onto Österlånggatan, chaos ensued when a vehicle collided with the crowd.

After an extensive investigation lasting over eight months, prosecutor Carolyn Westeröd has decided to press charges against a man in his seventies who was behind the wheel.

The charges include incitement against a group and attempted aggravated assault against all participants of the demonstration. The indictment states, "The act is deemed severe as it was carried out using a motor vehicle, which can be considered a deadly weapon, especially since the demonstration included children, infants in strollers, and elderly individuals."

There are more than seventy plaintiffs in the case, all of whom were present at the demonstration. One of the plaintiffs, a woman who attended with her children, expressed that the indictment holds significant symbolic value in a time when demonstrators face violence, imprisonment, and defamation.

Almost all plaintiffs have sought compensatory damages for emotional distress amounting to 50,000 SEK, with some claims reaching 70,000 SEK, which will be addressed during the trial. Prosecutor Carolyn Westeröd noted that it is customary for plaintiffs to be heard during proceedings, particularly when substantial damages are being claimed, as they will share their experiences and the impact of the incident.

The driver had a history of expressing deeply racist and hateful sentiments towards Palestinians. In previously deleted posts that have been reviewed, he made statements such as "Eradicate Palestinians" and "Neutralize all Palestinians immediately. They are not human; they are a virus."

Additionally, the indictment references social media posts where he implied that "Palestinians are best dead," labeled them as terrorists, and suggested that Muslims have lower intelligence and should not be permitted to have children. These statements are part of the basis for the charge of incitement against a group.

According to the prosecutor, while this aspect is separate from the incident at the demonstration, the clarity of his views in his posts suggests a possible hate crime motive behind his actions during the protest.

When questioned about any indications that the driver had specifically targeted this demonstration online, the prosecutor stated there was no evidence to suggest it was premeditated. Instead, it appeared to be an impulsive act.

The driver himself spoke to a channel linked to the Sweden Democrats, claiming he was attacked by "insane lunatics" who assaulted him. Efforts to contact his attorney for a statement have been made, but he denies any wrongdoing according to the charges.