Sweden: Riots continue for 4th day over alleged Quran burning

Stockholm:

Violent clashes were witnessed in several cities of Sweden for the last four days over the alleged burning of the Quran. The Quran was allegedly burnt by a far-right and anti-immigrant group in the Swedish city of Örebro. 

On Sunday, police opened fire to warn rioters in the eastern city of Norköping, injuring three people, local media said. Several vehicles were set on fire in the ongoing riots in Sweden, while the police have arrested 17 people so far. Several vehicles, including a bus, were torched at a rally by a right-wing group in the southern Swedish city of Malmö on Saturday.

Iran and Iraq have protested against the burning of Quran. The Swedish ambassadors were summoned by both countries. Danish-Swedish extremist Rasmus Paludan, who runs the Stram Kurs party, said he had burnt Islam’s holiest book and would continue to do so. 

According to media reports, the program was planned by right-wing groups in Stockholm, Linköping and Norrköping. Violence broke out on Thursday, Friday and Saturday wherever programs were organized. So far 16 police officers have been injured. Several police vehicles were also damaged.

Three injured in police firing

According to the local police, they had opened fire for Chetwani in view of the violence, but three people came under its grip and got injured. Sweden’s national police chief Anders Thornberg said on Saturday that the protesters did not care about the lives of police officers. 

“We have seen violent riots in the past too, but this one is different,” he said.

In 2020 also, Strom Kurs had planned to burn the Quran, after which violence erupted. At that time many vehicles and shops were set on fire in Malmö city. After this violence, Rasmus Paludan was sent to jail in 2020 on charges of racism.

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