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Protests in Sweden: Three injured amid unrest over planned Koran burns World news

At least three people were shot dead by police during protests against a far-right group in Sweden.

Riots have erupted across the country in recent days after Danish far-right politician Rasmus Paludan planned to burn the Koran in various cities.

On Sunday, a crowd of about 150 people threw stones at police and set fire to cars in the eastern city of Norrkoping.

Mr Paludan and his Stram Kurs party had staged a demonstration in the area but never showed up, Swedish media reported.

Photo: Protesters set fire to police cars

The police responded to the protest with warning shots, but three people were “hit by ricochets” and taken to a hospital.

They were later “arrested on suspicion of a crime”, police said.

Unrest was also reported in the nearby town of Linköping, where Mr Paludan planned to hold a demonstration, but he later canceled.

Image: Demonstrations took place in a number of cities

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On Facebook, the politician said he made the decision because the Swedish authorities were “completely incapable” of defending him or themselves.

Violent clashes have taken place in the Swedish capital, Stockholm, as well as in a number of other cities over the past three days.

Image: At least 12 police officers were injured

A dozen police officers were injured and four ambulances were set on fire in the central city of Orebro after riots erupted on Friday over Mr Paludan’s plan to burn the Koran there.

In the southern Swedish region of Landskrona, some protesters set fire to cars, tires and trash cans, while others erected a barrier to block traffic.

Similar demonstrations took place in the country’s third-largest city, Malmö, where a city bus and other items caught fire.

Mr Paludan founded the Stram Kurs party in 2017 and is now known for its anti-immigration and anti-Islamic agenda.