Violent Riots Erupt in Sweden After Politician Threatened to Soak Quran in Pig’s Blood and Light it On Fire
Violent riots have been ongoing in Sweden for several days after a right-wing politician said he was going to burn the Quran and soak it in “pork blood.”
At least 16 police officers have already been injured and four police vehicles were set on fire, according to a report from the BBC.
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The political party, Stram Kurs, which translates to “Hard Line,” had intended to conduct the demonstration in Landskrona on Thursday, but it was moved to Malmo after rioters began lighting cars of fire and engaging in violence.
“Local police said in a statement that they fired warning shots after coming under attack and three people were apparently hit by ricochets,” BBC reports.
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The riots continued through the weekend.
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Led by Danish-Swedish Rasmus Paludan, the group was planning to hold another demonstration in Norrköping on Sunday.
Stram Kurs had received permission from police to hold their anti-Islam demonstrations — which is considered protected free speech in the nation.
“We live in a democratic society and one of the most important tasks of the police is to ensure that people can use their constitutionally protected rights to demonstrate and express their opinions,” Sweden’s National Police Chief Anders Thornberg said in a statement about the riots. “The police do not get to choose who has this right, but must always intervene in case of violation.”
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Thornberg also said that the rioters had shown an “indifference” to the lives of police officers, adding: “We have seen violent riots before. But this is something else.”
At least 17 rioters had been arrested as of Sunday.
BBC noted that Paludan was jailed for a month in 2020 for “crimes” including “racism” in Denmark and has attempted to plan similar burnings of the Quran in other European countries, including France and Belgium.
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