Protests turned violent in Sweden after a group of far-right activists set fire to Islam’s holiest book.
The riot broke out Friday in Malmo, Sweden’s third-largest city, where some 300 people had gathered to protest against the Quran burning and anti-Muslim activities. Car tires were set on fire, and objects were thrown at police officers as the violence raged into the night, according to Reuters.
“We don’t have this under control, but we are working actively to take control,” a police spokesman said Friday.
“We see a connection between what is happening now and what happened earlier today,” he added in reference to the Quran burning.
The Quran burning came after Rasmus Paludan, leader of the Danish anti-immigration political party Hard Line, was denied entry into Sweden. Paludan had been planning to attend a meeting in Malmo but was stopped at the border.
“We suspect that he was going to break the law in Sweden,” Malmo police spokesman Calle Persson told Agence France-Presse. “There was also a risk that his behavior […] would pose a threat to society.”
The Daily Aftonbladet, a Swedish newspaper, reported on Saturday that police are preparing in case there is a second night of rioting and have called in reinforcements.
