MALMÖ (Sweden) March 28 — The Swedish city of Malmo is preparing to host the Eurovision Song Contest in early May under high security, amid protests over Israel’s participation during its ongoing war with Hamas.

The war in Ukraine, and a heightened threat level in Sweden since August after a spate of Koran burnings angered the Muslim world, mean organisers already had their work cut out to ensure that the world’s biggest live music event, which runs from May 5 to 11, goes off without a hitch.