Stefan Holm Suspected of Assaulting Journalist Emil Persson at 2026 Bokmässan
Stefan Holm allegedly assaulted journalist Emil Persson during the 2026 Bokmässan in Gothenburg, prompting a police investigation.
- • Stefan Holm allegedly assaulted Emil Persson at Bokmässan in Gothenburg.
- • Holm applied a chokehold on Persson for about 20 seconds, causing visible injuries.
- • Persson has reported the incident to the police and await investigation.
- • Holm's motives relate to longstanding grievances over past jokes made about him on TV.
Key details
At the 2026 Bokmässan in Gothenburg, former high jumper Stefan Holm allegedly assaulted journalist and podcast personality Emil Persson. The incident occurred on Saturday evening outside a restaurant connected to the book fair. Witnesses reported that Holm placed Persson in a chokehold lasting around 20 seconds, leaving visible marks on Persson's neck and tearing his shirt. Holm has confirmed that he is suspected of assault and stated to SVT, "Unfortunately, I lost it when I met him."
Persson has filed a police report regarding the assault and emphasized the importance of awaiting the investigation's outcome. Holm explained that his actions were driven by long-standing grievances stemming from jokes Persson made about him and his son on the 2018 TV show "Breaking News." Holm expressed that he felt deserving of an apology for those comments.
The Gothenburg police acknowledged the incident involving two individuals but have not yet confirmed the official filing of the report, describing the matter as ongoing. The event has drawn significant attention due to the prominent public figures involved and its occurrence at one of Sweden's key cultural gatherings.
This article was translated and synthesized from Swedish sources, providing English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
Source articles (2)
Source comparison
Details of the assault
Sources report different details about the assault incident.
dn.se
"Holm is under suspicion for allegedly assaulting Emil Persson."
svt.se
"Holm placed a chokehold on Persson for approximately 20 seconds, leaving him with visible marks on his neck."
Why this matters: One source claims Holm placed a chokehold on Persson for 20 seconds, while the other does not mention this detail. This discrepancy affects the understanding of the severity of the incident.
Holm's statement about the incident
Sources report different statements made by Stefan Holm regarding the incident.
dn.se
"Emil Persson stated, 'I have reported him to the police; it is best to wait for the investigation.'"
svt.se
"Holm confirmed to SVT that he is suspected of assault, stating, 'Unfortunately, I lost it when I met him.'"
Why this matters: One source quotes Holm expressing regret for losing control, while the other does not include this detail. This affects the portrayal of Holm's perspective on the incident.
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