STOCKHOLM: Swedish police on Sunday arrested two people and detained around 10 people after a violent riot broke out at a protest involving a burning of the Holy Quran, police said.
The protest was organised by Iraqi refugee Salwan Momika, whose protests -- which have included public desecrations of the Muslim holy book -- have sparked outrage across the Middle East. Sunday´s protest was held in a square in the southern city of Malmo, which has a large immigrant population, and according to public broadcaster SVT around 200 people had showed up to watch.
“Some onlookers have shown upset feelings, after the organiser burned writings,” police said in a statement.
“The mood was at times heated,” the statement said, adding that a “violent riot” occurred at 1:45 pm (1145 GMT).
According to police, the event had ended after the organiser left but a group of people remained at the scene.
About 10 people were detained for disturbing the public order and another two were arrested, suspected of violent rioting.
Local media reported that some onlookers threw rocks at Momika, and video from the scene showed some trying to break through the cordon before being stopped by police.
In another video a man could be scene trying to stop the police car that transported Momika from the location by getting in front of it.
Through a series of demonstrations, Momika has sparked anger directed at Sweden and diplomatic tensions between Sweden and several Middle Eastern countries.
The Swedish government has condemned the desecrations of the Holy Quran while noting the country´s constitutionally protected freedom of speech and assembly laws.
Iraqi protesters stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad twice in July, starting fires within the compound on the second occasion.Swedish envoys have also been summoned in a slew of Middle Eastern nations
ECP accepted the resignation of Secretary Dr Syed Asif Hussain and re-appointed ex-secretary Omar Hamid Khan as the...
IHC reserved its verdict on a petition filed by former prime minister Imran Khan’s spouse, Bushra Bibi, seeking her...
PPP opted to kept its silence with no response on the reports, creating further confusion on the situation
PHC stopped the Punjab Police and other agencies from arresting KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandpur in the cases...
Modi asserted that he would not let the quotas of scheduled classes going to Muslims on the basis of religion
Nahyan royal family from UAE holds prominent positions in both business and politics in gulf region and are also one...