Journalists mock far-right editor's offer of free trip to ‘crime-ridden’ Swedish city
Never underestimate the lure of a free holiday as the editor of a far-right publication found out when he offered a paid trip to the “crime-ridden migrant suburbs of Malmo.” Not surprisingly, people were happy to take up his offer of a trip to Sweden.
Infowars Editor-At-Large Paul Watson tweeted his offer to pay travel costs for journalists “to stay in crime-ridden migrant suburbs of Malmo” in an apparent response to the ridiculing of Donald Trump over comments he made about a non-existent crisis in Sweden.
Any journalist claiming Sweden is safe; I will pay for travel costs & accommodation for you to stay in crime ridden migrant suburbs of Malmo
— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) February 20, 2017
Watson’s post quickly drew responses from thousands of people, most of whom weren’t too fazed by the dangers he claimed the suburb of Malmo posed.
“Can I bring my wife too?” journalist Kurt Eichenwald asked.
“I will send you my bank info and send you selfies from Malmo,” another journalist, Joey Ayoub, responded.
.@PrisonPlanet WOW! Can I bring my wife too? Give me your contact info so we can start setting up the trip. I'm excited!
— Kurt Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) February 20, 2017
@PrisonPlanet I accept. I will send you my bank info and send you selfies from Malmo. If you do not pay, you will be ridiculed.
— Joey Ayoub (@joeyayoub) February 20, 2017
@PrisonPlanet This is me in Iraq. I'm 5'3, 125 lbs. I think I can handle Malmo. Where's my money? pic.twitter.com/ofHgqYJ2jY
— Sulome Anderson (@SulomeAnderson) February 20, 2017
Hello, @PrisonPlanet. I'm a deputy mayor in Malmö. I would be happy to meet with any journalists you send here to ser for themselves.
— Nils Karlsson (@FilosofenNils) February 20, 2017
Even non-journalists attempted to take up the offer, including comedian Al Murray who described Sweden as “an ace city break” and Dom Joly, who previously holidayed in North Korea and Chernobyl for a book titled ‘The Dark Tourist.’
@captainjaubrey@LFBarfe@PrisonPlanet I like to write. And Sweden is an ace city break place.
— Al Murray the318 (@almurray) February 20, 2017
Just checking you're getting these tweets? You offered to pay for a trip to Malmo. I want to go. Is there a problem? https://t.co/jBGm4ENjPQ
— Dom Joly (@domjoly) February 21, 2017
@PrisonPlanet I saw these suspicous looking individuals last time I was there: pic.twitter.com/jZdSXZKhWU
— Simon Stålenhag (@simonstalenhag) February 20, 2017
Paul has promised free holiday to any journo who doesn't believe Sweden is unsafe. DM him directly #PaulsHolidayGiveaway@PrisonPlanetpic.twitter.com/il7TJtBwkv
— Otto English (@Otto_English) February 20, 2017
Watson has ridiculed journalists who mocked his offer, tweeting about crime in Sweden and asking if they would feel comfortable walking through Malmo’s “migrant suburbs” at night.
Do you accept that you have a problem with migrant suburbs in Malmo? Would you be happy to walk through them at night with no security? https://t.co/gDP6TYTmCa
— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) February 21, 2017
He has made good on his promise to one journalist who accepted his offer, donating $2,000 to a GoFundMe to bring US journalist Tim Pool to Sweden to investigate the alleged crime wave.
I have personally donated $2,000 for journalist @Timcast's investigation of Sweden's migrant crime wave. 😎 https://t.co/91TMoqw4pwpic.twitter.com/6P9VSXiibP
— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) February 20, 2017
Thanks to @PrisonPlanet for following through on his offer to fund journalism in Sweden. We will be there very soon. https://t.co/cm5SzQ45cA
— Tim Pool (@Timcast) February 20, 2017
Sweden found itself at the center of global attention following comments made by Trump at the weekend. He suggested the country had experienced a significant incident related to its immigration policies the previous night. The president’s comments stemmed from a story broadcast on Fox News about which key subjects have since claimed their statements were taken out of context.
READ MORE: Police knock down documentary behind Trump’s #LastNightInSweden gaffe
Last night riots erupted in the Stockholm district of Rinkeby, as police arrested a wanted suspect at a subway station. Between 30 and 50 people were involved in the disturbances, according to police.
A police officer was injured in the riot, which saw several warning shots fired at the crowd. It’s not known if any immigrants were involved in the unrest.
READ MORE: Rioters set cars on fire, loot shops in Stockholm suburb (PHOTOS, VIDEO)