Sweden is experiencing unrest as a result of planned Quran burnings

Clashes have erupted in several Swedish cities for the fourth day, sparked by the alleged burning of a Quran by a far-right, anti-immigrant group.

Three people were injured, according to local media, when police fired warning shots at rioters in Norrköping, Sweden, on Sunday.
At least 17 people were arrested after several vehicles were set on fire.

During a far-right rally in the southern city of Malmo on Saturday, vehicles, including a bus, were set on fire. The governments of Iran and Iraq had summoned Swedish envoys to express their displeasure with the burning.

Rasmus Paludan, the leader of the Danish-Swedish Stram Kurs, or Hard Line, movement, said he had burned Islam’s most sacred text and would do so again.

On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, at least 16 police officers were reported injured, and several police vehicles were reported destroyed in unrest in areas where the far-right group planned events, including Stockholm suburbs and the cities of Linköping and Norrköping.

According to Deutsche Welle, Paludan had threatened to hold another rally in Norrköping on Sunday, prompting counter-demonstrators to gather there.

In a statement, local police said they fired warning shots after being attacked, and three people were apparently hit by ricochets.

Anders Thornberg, Sweden’s national police chief, said in a statement on Saturday that demonstrators had shown a lack of concern for police officers’ lives, adding: “We’ve seen violent riots in the past. This, on the other hand, is a unique situation.”

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