An unknown individual has illegally settled on Årsta Holmar, a nature reserve in central Stockholm, converting an old sheep shelter into a cabin. This has led to the closure of the island to visitors due to safety concerns. Authorities are involved to evict the person, who has made several modifications to the site, including installing alarms and unauthorized electrical connections.
Illegal Residence Discovered on Årsta Holmar in Stockholm
Illegal Residence Discovered on Årsta Holmar in Stockholm
Someone has moved to the small nature reserve Årsta Holmar in central Stockholm, reports Mitti Södermalm. This person has converted the old sheep shelter on the island into a small cabin and installed alarms.
"What we know is that someone has settled in quite thoroughly," says Peter Lind from the Södermalm district administration to the newspaper.
On Lillholmen in the Årsta Holmar nature reserve in Årstaviken, between Årsta and Södermalm in Stockholm, stands a newly painted small red shed. Outdoor furniture has been set up outside, and two Swedish flags wave at the entrance.
It might sound like an ordinary summer cottage, but it is not.
An unknown person has settled there, which has led to the small island being closed to visitors, writes Mitti Södermalm.
"It is a safety issue because we do not know who has settled there and why," says Peter Lind, safety coordinator at the Södermalm district administration, to the newspaper.
Mowed Grass and Painted Footbridge
The three islets have been a nature reserve since 2018. Visitors can usually take a boat there for free, but now only two of them can be visited.
"We have heard more details from people who have stopped by. That he has mowed the grass, painted the footbridge, brought a water hose. On Sunday, a bicycle was there," says Anja Hörner, who works with boat tours to the islets, to Mitti.
Additionally, unauthorized electrical lines have been run to the shed, protected trees have been cut down, and another shed has been used as a toilet, according to the police report the newspaper has seen.
The person has also installed a motion detector on the door.
Enforcement Authority Involved
When the district administration visited the cabin, no one was there. Now the enforcement authority has been involved to evict the person.
"We believe it is one person who has been the driving force and settled, then it seems there is a group around the person with others who have been there," says Peter Lind.