The trial against two leading individuals in what has come to be called a "Viking sect" began on Wednesday. The couple is suspected of threats against an official and unlawful threats in a case involving a total of 24 plaintiffs.
According to the prosecutor, the forced custody of children is at the heart of the court case, writes Dagens Nyheter.
On Wednesday, some of the 24 victims testified. Interviews were also held with social services employees in Gullspång who worked with the forcibly removed children.
The plaintiff's representative, Elvy Wicklund, shares the prosecutor's view. According to her, it all started in 2013 when a child linked to "members of this group" was forcibly removed from a maternity ward.
I believe that since 2013, these individuals have been conducting a campaign against authorities with decision-making powers in LVU cases. They have tried to get decisions overturned that were made by the responsible board in Gullspång, she says to DN.
The two defendants – a 55-year-old woman and an 85-year-old man – have, according to the indictment, talked about leading "Gudalandet" and called for the execution of decision-makers with claims that they are part of a large conspiracy.
In a video, they said we would be hanged, not beheaded because our blood was impure. They had already built the gallows. They also had some book with rules, such as being able to choose to torture someone else if we preferred that, says a member of the municipal council, who chose to leave their post due to the threats, to DN.
