Mobs of youths clashed with police and set fire to vehicles in a bid to disrupt an anti-immigration party’s rallies
Chants of ‘Allahu Akbar’, police cars set on fire, and officers injured – this is what the run-up to Easter looked like in multiple towns and cities across Sweden this week, after the authorities gave a far-right anti-immigration group the go-ahead to stage rallies, which included plans to burn the Koran.
Unrest broke out on Thursday in the city of Linkoping, where gangs of youths clashed with police, injuring three officers. At least two people were detained.
The violence was sparked by the Swedish authorities’ decision to grant permission for a series of anti-Islam rallies. Organized by Rasmus Paludan – a right-wing Danish politician who has spent time in prison on racism-related charges – the events in various places across Sweden were intended to feature the burning of Islam’s holy book, the Koran.
READ MORE: Far-right group accused of flying controversial banner over UK stadium
Tensions came to a head on Friday when the Danish firebrand descended on the city of Orebro.
While Paludan and his supporters were initially allowed to hold their rally, it eventually had to be “dissolved” in light of the “serious security situation.” Mobs of rioters protesting against the far-right group pelted police with stones and set fire to four law enforcement vehicles.
I Malmö nu kl 00:35
17 april
Från en live video pic.twitter.com/5TkAOPSj53— Nike (@cx1nikeee) April 16, 2022
So tense was the situation that police had to fire warning shots at one point, as confirmed by a police spokesperson to Swedish media.
While the local police department initially spoke of four injured officers and a bystander, it later updated that number, saying that “about ten colleagues” had sustained injuries.
According to the authorities, some of the policemen taken to the hospital had been hit on the head, while others had suspected arms fractures. Police described the events in Orebro as a “violent riot.”
Polisen skjuter varningsskott flertalet gånger. Rebellernas svar är att skrika: “Allahu akbar!” och kasta sten och föremål i syfte att allvarlig skada eller döda poliser.
Berätta för mig hur det inte kan finnas lagstöd för att skjuta verkanseld mot dessa människor. pic.twitter.com/G75DqNNiRW
— Pontus Persson (@PontusPersson5) April 15, 2022
Similar scenes played out in Sweden’s capital, Stockholm, as well as Malmo and Norrkoping.
On Saturday, unrest was reported in the town of Landskrona, with dozens of youths setting fire to vehicles, tires, and trash cans. According to the local police, none of the law enforcement personnel deployed in the town were harmed as a result. Officials noted that tensions were gradually dying down.
Jag kom hela vägen från Miami till min mammas stad Örebro. Rökpelare mötte mig över staden. Sedan detta. 200 meter från hennes lägenhet. Inte en polis var kvar. Eller brandman. Full brand. Alla hade flytt. Aldrig sett liknande i någon stad jag bott i. pic.twitter.com/9aRZDh8ZSc
— peterrost (@peterrost) April 17, 2022
According to the Expressen newspaper, Paludan did manage to burn at least one copy of the Koran in Stockholm’s Rinkeby district on Friday. A video was also posted on Twitter, which appears to show him in the act.
Rasmus Paludan begår nedskräpning när han bränner koranen. Jag uppmanar folk att polisanmäla honom. Videos bevis på hans fb Stram kurs. Ring 11414 och anmäl. #polisen #svpol #Rinkeby #linköping #norrköping #vivalla #örebro #rasmuspaludan @yb_sodermalm pic.twitter.com/zK878B5ZRm
— NFTkillen (@abdirichboy) April 15, 2022
Explaining their decision to grant Paludan permission to hold the controversial rallies across the country, the Swedish authorities cited freedom of speech.
Paludan’s anti-Islam performances and the subsequent rioting came ahead of Easter, and during the month of Ramadan.
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