Birthday balloons mistaken for IS propoganda

These 21st birthday balloons were mistaken for IS propoganda. Photo: Twitter

A 21-year-old Swedish woman will never forget her landmark birthday after police who thought she was promoting IS propaganda from her apartment window.

Sarah Ericsson had her 21 birthday balloons in her window facing the world and from the outside it looked like IS.

A member of the public saw the balloons from the streets and called the police thinking they looked like a propaganda tool for the extremist group.


She told The Local newspaper: "It was a little strange."

The student was at university when her boyfriend Fabian Åkesson, who was staying at her home in Karlskrona, received a visit from police.

Ericsson told The Local newspaper: "We understand why someone would report it if they thought it looked like IS-propaganda, although everyone else just thought it looked like the number '12' from outside."

The couple were asked to take the balloons down from the window to prevent further misunderstandings.

The birthday girl added: "I'm so surprised at all the attention. I will never forget my 21st birthday!"

Morning news break – February 27