The story of a woman from Uppsala, Sweden, said to have been subject to a hate crime is currently flourishing on foreign websites and social media. An American pro-Israeli website, amongst others, writes that several people attacked the woman on the grounds of her wearing the Star of David. The attack is believed to have taken place in Uppsala, with the victim sustaining full body injuries. According to Uppsala police however, these facts do not correspond to recent events.
– The woman claims she was not subject to abuse, although she had previously been spat in the face by another woman, an act which has been reported to the police. The crime is currently being called assault,” says Lisa Sannervik, police spokeswoman.
According to Lisa Sannervik, this event took place in July in the Uppsala suburb of Gottsunda; she claims there is no evidence of it being a hate crime.
Presently, a photograph of a woman after what seems to be a violent attack is circulating the web, although according to Lisa Sannervik this image has no links with what happened in July:
– The woman says that the photo was taken a week and a half ago after an operation.
UNT met the woman in question, to find out how such an unrelated story ended up circulating the web. According to the woman, there has been confusion between what happened to her in July and something that happened to an assaulted woman in another country. She believes an acquaintance may have informed foreign websites of her case.
– It is possible that they found photos of my jaw operation on my facebook profile, I’m not sure.
The woman claims distress at how the event has been reproduced and spread on the internet.