Swedish swimming pool squatters arrested

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- Three squatters trying to stop the planned demolition of a public swimming pool in suburban Stockholm, Sweden, were arrested Wednesday, police said.

They were part of a group of residents of Aspudden who occupied the Aspuddsbadet pool facility in shifts for almost two months, Tidningarnas Telegrambyra reported.

The three will be charged with trespassing, police said.

City officials want to tear down the 90-year-old pool building and replace it with a new preschool. Angered locals want it renovated.

"It's important to have facilities which can serve as gathering places, so that we don't just end up being a dormitory town," Iva Troj, one of those trying to save the facility, said.

Ola Schubert, spokesman for the group, says he was surprised by the arrests. "I think we've done everything to get a dialogue going with politicians but haven't succeeded. We're terribly upset this morning," he said. "This is like a punch in the mouth."