On Monday morning, the police received reports that a handful of activists from the organisation Restore Wetlands had gained access to a peat plant near Kumla.
“They filled in drainage ditches near the Ekeby bog (Ekebymossen). We went there to inform, talk and carry out investigative measures,” explains Sofia Jiglind, press spokesperson for the Bergslagen police region (Sofia Jiglind).
“We gave them the opportunity to voluntarily leave the site, which they did not do. Therefore, we have detained five individuals. They are suspected of trespassing and vandalism,” she continues.
“We arrived there today, dug up peat and filled it into the ditches. The goal is to get the water to soak into the peat, as otherwise, large amounts of carbon dioxide are released. Several people were arrested; we were driven out of the peat harvesting facility,” explains Josefin Eidrup Dahlberg (Josefin Eidrup Dahlberg), press spokesperson for Restore Wetlands.
Seeking to reduce peat harvesting
Representatives of the organisation claim that they have sought a dialogue with the company without success and are conducting a four-week campaign this summer to highlight the need to reduce peat harvesting in the country. Similar actions have taken place elsewhere in Sweden, resulting in activists being both arrested and detained.
“The offences the suspects are accused of vary, for example, trespassing and aggravated vandalism,” says Josefin Eidrup Dahlberg.