Footage from a security camera inside parliament seems to contradict testimony that two of the so-called “Reykjavík Nine” used violence and forced their way into the house of parliament in December 2008.
The charges against the two protesters stem from testimony that they allegedly pushed a guard in order to get into parliament. The trial has been controversial to say the least – packed galleries, more arrests, and newspaper editors bemoaning the rise of “violent extremism” in Iceland.
However, footage of the incident in question appears to contradict the official version of events. So much so that the government broadcasting system RÚV chose to air the footage under the headline “Video shows that guard was not pushed.” To watch it, click the word “Horfa” under the photo with the article. RÚV also contends that parliament had refused to give them this footage for over a year.
Charges against one of the protesters allege that the accused had bitten two policemen and pushed another guard, however, and that can be seen in the complete footage.
CORRECTION: The aforementioned video does not vindicate two of the protesters involved in the case, but rather, casts doubts upon the official version of events as a whole, such as the testimony of a security guard that he was pushed. The Grapevine apologizes for the error.