Three people were injured in a clash between protesters and police in Sweden after right-wing extremists burned the Koran, leading to a situation similar to a riot in several cities over the weekend.
Protesters were hit by police bullets in the town of Norrkoping and taken to hospital for treatment. “Three people appear to have been hit by ricochets and are now in hospital. All three wounded have been arrested on suspicion of crime, authorities said.
Riots erupted in several parts of Sweden after demonstrations by Rasmus Paludan, leader of the Danish far-right political party Stram Kurs or Hard Line. The extremist leader was reportedly known for his anti-Islamic activities and was allowed to hold a series of demonstrations across Sweden over the weekend.
Swedish authorities say they fired “warning shots” during the riots to disperse protesters outraged by demonstrations over the past few days. Several counter-protests planned against Mr Paludan’s demonstrations turned violent after he set fire to a copy of the Koran on Friday.
Kim Hild, a police spokeswoman in southern Sweden, said on Saturday that police would not revoke permission to demonstrate against religious minorities because the threshold was very high in Sweden, as the Scandinavian country values freedom of speech.
The right of protesters to “demonstrate and speak is very heavy and it takes an incredible amount to ignore it,” Ms Hild told the Swedish news agency TT.
During Saturday’s rally, vehicles, including buses and cars, were set on fire in the southern city of Malmo. Counter-protesters hurled stones at right-wing protesters, and police reportedly used pepper spray to disperse them.
People burn branches to block road during riot in Norrkoping, Sweden on April 17
(Stefan Jerewang / TT Agency via AP)
At least 16 police officers were injured during the riots over the weekend in Linköping, Norrkoping and the suburbs of the capital Stockholm.
The leader of the right was hit with a stone in his leg, local media reported.
Videos and photos from Orebro show burning police cars and protesters throwing stones and other objects at riot police officers.
In the southern city of Landskrona, hundreds of mostly young people threw stones and set fire to cars, tires and trash cans.
Mr Paludan and his party, led by the anti-immigration and anti-Islamic agenda, had planned a demonstration in Norrkoping on Sunday, but reportedly did not show up.
He announced on the party’s Facebook page that he had decided to cancel Sunday’s demonstrations in both places, as Swedish authorities in the region “have shown that they are completely incapable of defending themselves and me.”
He added: “If I was seriously injured or killed due to the inadequacy of the police authorities, then it would be very sad for Swedes, Danes and other northerners.”
“We have seen violent riots before. But that’s something else, “Anders Thornberg, Sweden’s national police chief, told BBC News.
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