Riots in Sweden: what are the reasons and what has happened?
As news reports across the globe highlight the Easter disturbances that have been seen in the Scandinavian country, questions are being asked about their origin.
The Easter weekend in Sweden has been marred by riots in several cities and police have provided some details of people that have been hurt in the protests.
In the city of Norrkoping, which lies to the east of Stockholm, there were three people who needed medical attention after being hit by police bullets. The clashes came after counter-protesters attacked police ahead of planned right-wing extremist demonstrations expected to be burning the Quran.
Sweden, you look at what's happening last night in Sweden. Sweden, who would believe this. Sweden. They took in large numbers. They're having problems like they never thought possible. pic.twitter.com/j25IYDhb2h
— Petter Ershag (KD) (@PErshag) April 17, 2022
“Three people seem to have been hit by ricochets and are now being cared for in hospital. All three injured are arrested on suspicion of crime,” police said in an online statement, adding none of the injuries were life-threatening.
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The confrontations between the police and protesters have taken place since Thursday when a demonstration was organised by the leader of Danish far-right political party Hard Line, Rasmus Paludan. He is known for Quran burnings over the Easter holiday and several police have been injured and multiple vehicles torched amid the clashes.
Welcome to #Sweden pic.twitter.com/upemjWILOn
— Åsk Dabitch Wäppling 🇸🇪 ᚬᛋᚴ ᛏᛅᛒᛁᛏᚴᚼ ᚢᛅᛅᛒᛒᛚᛁᚾᚴ (@dabitch) April 17, 2022
The country’s prime minister, Magdalena Andersson, condemned the violence while police have confirmed that the situation in Norrkoping had calmed by Sunday evening.