Mjódd businesses call for all-day security after assault

Businesses and staff in Mjódd say they continue to feel unsafe after a serious assault and are calling for clearer responsibility and more security. The concerns were reported by mbl.is.

Five young people aged 15 to 20 attacked two people in Mjódd on Saturday evening. One victim, a teenager, was struck on the head with a glass bottle and suffered cuts. The other victim was a man in his 50s.

Marcin Szafranowicz, who runs Express Food in Mjódd, says safety in the building and its immediate surroundings is the main concern. He says he raised the issue a year ago and that the situation has again begun to resemble what it was then.

“I’ll admit that I’m sometimes afraid myself. Only a fool would not feel fear in these circumstances,” Szafranowicz told mbl.is. He said many incidents could be prevented if action were taken properly and in time.

A lease between Reykjavík City and GTS ehf. took effect in March, and GTS has since worked on improvements to the facilities, Szafranowicz said. But he believes security should have come before other renovations, such as replacing radiators and repairing the building.

He says the current security presence is inadequate and wants a guard on site throughout the day, with another person available to provide support. “One person can very quickly end up in trouble themselves,” he said.

Luis Hernandez, a caretaker on Mjódd’s pedestrian street, described similar concerns. He said the problem involves adults as well as young people, including people with drug and alcohol problems. Hernandez oversees the area during the day, before Securitas takes over in the afternoon.