Far-right activists burned a Quran in the southern Swedish city of Malmo, sparking riots and riots after more …read more
STOCKHOLM: At least 10 people were arrested in southern Sweden and several police officers were injured in the violence that erupted after a Danish anti-Muslim politician was unable to attend a demonstration to burn the Koran, police said Saturday.
Protesters threw stones at police and burned tires in the streets of Malmo on Friday night, and the violence increased as the night progressed, according to police and local media.
The demonstration of about 300 people was linked to an incident earlier in the day in which protesters burned a copy of the Islamic holy book, police spokesman Rickard Lundqvist told the Swedish tabloid Expressen.
Between 10 and 20 protesters were arrested Friday night and “all were released,” police spokesman Patric Fors told AFP.
The violence had subsided on Saturday morning.
Rasmus Paludan, who leads the far-right Danish anti-immigration party Hard Line, was due to travel to Malmo to speak at Friday’s event, which was held on the same day as the weekly prayers for the Muslim saturday.
But authorities were ahead of Paludan’s arrival by announcing that he had been banned from entering Sweden for two years. He was later arrested near Malmo.
“We suspected he was going to break the law in Sweden,” Calle Persson, a police spokesman in Malmo, told AFP.
“There was also the risk that their behavior … would pose a threat to society.”
But his supporters went ahead with the rally, during which six people were arrested for inciting racial hatred.
Paludan later put a scathing message on Facebook.
“Returned and expelled from Sweden for two years. However, rapists and murderers are always welcome.” he wrote.
Paludan last year attracted media attention for burning a Koran wrapped in bacon, a meat that is anathema for Muslims.
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