Thomas (45) was kicked out by the police during Eurovision: – Very disgusting

The short version

• Thomas Kolbein Bjørk Olsen (45) was taken away from the Malmö arena twice in two days and taken to the police station during the Eurovision test show.
• Olsen claims he was given no explanation as to why he was taken by the police.
• The police in Region Syd reply that Olsen behaved differently and aggressively inside the arena.
• Olsen believes the police may have reacted to a scarf he was wearing, but emphasizes that he did not behave violently.

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– The police behaved violently. I thought it was very disgusting, says Olsen to VG.

He says that he was scrolling on his mobile when two plainclothes police officers grabbed him during the test for Monday’s semi-final.

The rehearsal was one of the shows the public could buy tickets for. Olsen had a ticket on the floor, and leaned against a railing against the seats up in the arena.

– I look up from the phone and see two plainclothes police officers in front of me. They grabbed me and said I looked suspicious and that I had to come along for a check-up, he says.

Southern Sweden mentioned the matter first.

The police must have taken him to the backstage area.

– They tear off my jacket, take off my cape and throw my outer clothes on the floor. I ask all the way: “What have I done, and why have you brought me back here?”. Nobody answers that, says Olsen.

– The only thing I can relate to is that they think I look suspicious.

Was taken to the detention center

Olsen says that he became frustrated when the police officer repeatedly asked for his name after writing it down. He then told the police that he was not going to say more.

– Then they call the police station and arrange for me to be taken to the detention center, because they think I’m too drunk.

But Olsen is an abstainer.

– I don’t drink alcohol, I am completely abstinent. I don’t smoke, I don’t take drugs. It seemed like they had to make up something to have a reason to remove me.

He estimates that he was at the police station for approximately one hour, before another police officer said he could leave.

– He said they had no reason to keep me there. Then I was allowed to go.

– Not very keen to go

The next day, Olsen tried to get the tickets refunded.

– I didn’t really want to go there anymore.

Looking for an information point, he was approached by one of the police officers from the night before, he says.

– He said that he just wanted to see how it went, and that he had to do a body search.

Then the policeman is said to have said that he had to take a picture of Olsen.

– That was the final straw for me. I didn’t understand why they went after me again, when I was released the day before without any charges against me.

Olsen says that he put his hand in front of his face when the policeman took a picture. When he finally allowed himself to be photographed, he grimaced.

– Then he became furious. I was taken away again, and taken into custody.

Olsen feels that the police were brutal when they took him away.

– They put my arms on my back and held me in a tight grip. Like I was trying to run away. They spent a lot of resources checking me.

– Aggressive atmosphere

Police spokesperson in Region South Filip Annas confirms to VG that a person was taken away from the arena.

– There is a person who has behaved abnormally inside the arena. When he is controlled, an aggressive mood has arisen. He will then be taken care of, she writes in an e-mail to VG.

The police do not answer VG’s questions about what it was about Olsen’s behavior that made them perceive him as aggressive.

– The police, together with the organiser, are responsible for security during Eurovision, and in some cases we have to carry out checks.

– Is there something you may have done that made the police perceive you as aggressive?

– I got very upset when I didn’t get a reason. But I always related to what they asked me to do. I didn’t try to run and I wasn’t violent, emphasizes Olsen.

Around her neck, Olsen wore a scarf from H&M with black and white checks, reminiscent of a Palestinian scarf.

– They may have been triggered by the fact that I had a black and white scarf. But they could have asked me about it. No one said anything the two times I went through security. I didn’t wear it to provoke.

High readiness

Olsen says he was told by the police that he was banned from the arena.

– I no longer have a loving relationship with Eurovision. It already started with Israel’s participation, I think it is problematic.

Over 1,000 police officers, helicopters, bomb dogs and snipers have been called out when over 30,000 demonstrators are expected in the city streets of Malmö to protest against Israel’s warfare in Gaza.

Also read: Malmö holds its breath before Eurovision protests

– Do you understand that the police are taking precautions, as the situation is now?

– Absolutely. I understand that very well. And I understand that they wanted to check me. I stood there all alone, not wearing sparkling sequins, but scrolling on my mobile and perhaps not looking very engaged. I think the threshold should be low for who they check. But they don’t have to be so brutal.