Nearly one hundred masked men came together in Stockholm, Sweden to condemn incoming refugees as well as distribute pamphlets telling people they should also condemn them. The event occurred on January 29th, 2016 and it only got worse from there. The pamphlets reportedly read “It’s enough now!” and “North African street children who were roaming around [should get] the punishment they deserve.” There was only one incident of actual violence, however, in which witnesses say they saw men beating up people who appeared foreign.

Four people were charged in relation to the incident, one of which was charged with assaulting a police officer. The others were charged with causing a public disturbance and wearing a mask in public which is a crime in Sweden. According to a Stockholm police officer, the four men arrested are supposedly part of “hooligan gangs linked to Stockholm football teams” and he also said the men were originally detained because they believe the men had the purpose of attacking refugee children.

This event was sparked by rising tensions in Sweden when 22-year-old Alexandra Mezher, who worked at a center for children seeking asylum was fatally stabbed, in which a 15-year-old asylum-seeker was arrested on suspicion for murder just a week before. “This is horrible especially because these men were making racist comments at children who can’t defend themselves.” said Freshman Jack Palatucci.