Four vacationing Swedish police officers are being hailed as “Nordic heroes” for breaking up a fight on a New York City subway and calmly restraining the alleged attacker.
The cops were reportedly on their way to see Les Miserables on Broadway when the fight broke out on their train in Manhattan.
The New York Post reports that the Swedes sprang into action when the train operator yelled for help over the intercom. A bystander recorded video of the incident and posted it on YouTube.
In the video, two of the cops can be seen holding a man in an arm lock and telling him to calm down until NYPD officers arrive. Another cop stayed close to the alleged victim, who was lying on the floor and reportedly bleeding from the mouth.
The video quickly made the rounds online, sparking headlines like “Hot Swedish Cops Break Up Subway Fight, Sweep Weary City Off Its Feet,” and “Alarmingly Handsome Swedish Cops Break up New York Subway Fight.”
The Swedish officers, identified by The New York Post as Samuel Kvarzell, Markus Asberg, Eric Jansberger, and Erik Naslun said they were just trying to “make sure no one got hurt.”
“We’re no heroes, just tourists,” Asberg said.
Well done guys! "Swedish cops on vacation break up subway fight | NY Post http://t.co/GoSvuIX4fJ" #US #Sweden pic.twitter.com/GLZw3dKRaB
— US Embassy in Sweden (@usembassysweden) April 23, 2015
The New York Police Department formally recognized the Swedes’ actions at a promotion ceremony on Friday. They also met with the NYPD commissioner.
NYPD @CommissBratton Met With Swedish Cops Who Broke Up Fight On 6 Train http://t.co/2Y9XPfck0M pic.twitter.com/d59NM7LSYe
— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) April 24, 2015
While the cops’ Europop band-worthy looks got a lot of attention on social media, many people also noted the stark contrast between the way they handled the situation and recent stories of lethal police force in the U.S.
You mean to tell me SWEDISH COPS ON VACATION broke up a fight in NEW YORK without brutalizing or killing anyone?
— mobbdeen (@Deen8) April 24, 2015
These #swedishcops in NYC school the @NYPDnews on how to properly neutralize a suspect without using deadly force. https://t.co/sSHOUnJc84
— Benny (@BRios82) April 24, 2015