Alt-right website editor pays journalist £1,600 to investigate Sweden violence
A UK-BASED editor of a conspiracy website has sponsored a reporter who took up his Twitter offer to investigate ongoing reports of violence in Sweden.
Donald Trump sparks confusion over 'problems' in Sweden
The stunt came after the Scandinavian nation was thrown under the spotlight by US President Donald Trump's reference to a security incident which was hotly disputed.
Mr Trump has since sought to clarify his remarks, stating that his comments were "in reference to a story that was broadcast on Fox News concerning immigrants and Sweden".
But social media has been awash with users ridiculing the president using the hashtag #lastnightinSweden -prompting alt-right blogger Paul Joseph Watson, the UK-based editor of Infowars, to challenge journalists.
Migrants arrive in Malmo
The tweet from alt-right blogger and conspiracy theorist Paul Joseph Watson
Any journalist claiming Sweden is safe, I will pay for travel costs and accommodator for you to stay in crime ridden migrant suburbs of Malmo
This was despite reports of police being forced to shoot at rioters in Stockholm on Monday night.
In a tweet Mr Watson wrote: “Any journalist claiming Sweden is safe, I will pay for travel costs and accommodator for you to stay in crime ridden migrant suburbs of Malmo.”
The city has a large immigrant population and last October ISIS claimed responsibility for a fire at a Muslim community centre there.
The incident has been cited by the White House in the list of violence it claimed had been under-reported by the media.
Alt-right blogger and conspiracy theorist Paul Joseph Watson
In a follow-up post, subsequently deleted, Mr Watson wrote: "All you lefty idiots accepting a 'trip to Sweden'. Can you read? I said you'd be staying here. Good luck.”
The post featured a number of images to illustrate his point, including a photograph of anti-Israel protesters from the 2009 Davis Cup tennis match between Sweden and Israel.
Hundreds of people offered their services, including comedian Al Murray and journalist Laurie Penny.
Mr Watson has since donated £1,600 to US journalist Tim Pool who has pledged to "investigate the claims of 'no-go zones' and a rise in crime that people believe are coming from migrants and refugees".
In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Mr Pool says: "This is a highly politicised phenomenon, with one faction saying it's true and you're denying it for political reasons, and the other side saying it's false and you're pushing the story for political reasons.
"I don't side with anybody. I'm a sceptic."
Malmo's deputy mayor Nils Karlsson has promised any visiting journalists a warm welcome.
Protestors make their way to a rally by Dutch right-winger Geert Wilders in Malmo
In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Mr Pool says: "This is a highly politicised phenomenon, with one faction saying it's true and you're denying it for political reasons, and the other side saying it's false and you're pushing the story for political reasons.
"I don't side with anybody. I'm a sceptic."
Malmo's deputy mayor Nils Karlsson has promised any visiting journalists a warm welcome.