Clashes broke out in an immigrant neighborhood in Sweden’s third-largest city after an anti-Muslim protester set fire to a Quran, the police reported on Monday.
Police in Malmo stated that they were attacked with rocks, and dozens of cars, including those in an underground garage, were set ablaze. They described the events that began on Sunday and continued overnight as “a violent riot.”
The clashes began when an anti-Islam activist named Salwan Momika burned a Quran on Sunday, and an angry crowd attempted to stop him, according to the police. At least three individuals were detained in connection with the incident.
In the early hours of Monday, a group of mainly young people set fire to tires and debris, and some threw electric scooters, bicycles, and barriers in Malmo’s Rosengard neighborhood, which has experienced similar clashes in the past. Several banners condemned the Quran burning.
“I understand that a public gathering like this arouses strong emotions, but we cannot tolerate disturbances and violent expressions like those we saw on Sunday afternoon,” said senior police officer Petra Stenkula.
“It is extremely regrettable to once again witness violence and vandalism in Rosengard,” she added.
“Regardless of the reason behind these riots, the car fires, the harassment, violence against police officers… regardless of the reason, I think that all Swedes find this completely unacceptable,” stated Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson during a news conference.
In recent months, Salwan Momika, a refugee from Iraq, has desecrated copies of the Quran during a series of anti-Islam protests, mostly in Stockholm. Swedish police have allowed his actions, citing freedom of speech.
The Quran burnings have sparked angry protests in Muslim countries, attacks on Swedish diplomatic missions, and threats from Islamic extremists. Muslim leaders in Sweden have called on the government to find ways to prevent Quran burnings.
Sweden abolished its last blasphemy laws in the 1970s, and the government has stated it has no intention of reintroducing them.
However, the government has announced an investigation into the possibility of allowing the police to reject permits for demonstrations due to national security concerns.
