Rødding residents march against suspected racist vandalism

Residents of Rødding joined a torchlight march on Sunday evening after three local business owners with immigrant backgrounds experienced vandalism, DR reported.

The demonstration, called Rødding Against Racism, was organised by local residents. Co-organiser Kasper Hofer Østergaard said people had gathered despite rain and wind to speak out against vandalism and racism.

One message painted on the wall of Torino Pizza & Grill overnight on Thursday called for people of immigrant backgrounds to leave Denmark. Østergaard said the wording was racist. A participant, Jeppe Thøgersen, said he believed the vandalism was racially motivated because all those affected had ethnic backgrounds other than Danish.

DR said it had contacted South and Southern Jutland Police on Sunday to ask whether the force viewed the vandalism as racist. It had not received a response at the time of publication.

The affected business owners joined the march. Ibrahim Saadi, a used-car dealer who was among those targeted, said he was moved by the turnout and offered to pay for pizza for everyone.