Sweden’s Davis Cup tie with Israel is being played behind closed doors but that has done nothing to quell anti-Israeli sentiment outside the stadium in Malmo.

Due to security concerns, the three-day match is being played in an empty stadium in the southwestern port city, which has a large immigrant population. What began as a peaceful pro-Palestinian demonstration descended into violence as several hundred militants joined the march and started attacking police with stones, fireworks and paint bombs. Around 10 people were detained. Malmo, which is Sweden’s third largest city and is ruled by a left-of-centre coalition, was heavily criticised by the International Tennis Federation and by Israeli players for its decision to close the stadium to the public. Tensions between Israel and its Arab neighbours have been heightened by the three-week Israeli offensive in the Gaza strip which killed about 1,300 Palestinians and 14 Israelis.More about: Israel

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