Sweden protests: Three injured amid unrest over planned Koran burnings | World News

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At least three people were shot by police during protests against a far-right group in Sweden.

Riots have broken out across the country in recent days after Danish far-right politician Rasmus Paludan planned to carry out Koran burnings in various towns and cities.

On Sunday, a crowd of about 150 people threw stones at police officers and set fire to cars in the eastern city of Norrkoping.

Mr Paludan and his Stram Kurs party had organised a demonstration in the area but never showed up, Swedish media reported.

Smoke billows from a burning car during a riot ahead of a demonstration planned by Danish anti-Muslim politician Rasmus Paludan and his Stram Kurs party, which was to include a burning of the Muslim holy book Koran, in Navestad, Norrkoping, Sweden April 17, 2022, in this handout image obtained by Reuters on April 17, 2022. Ulf Wigh/Wighsnews/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY. MANDATORY CREDIT.
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Demonstrations have taken place across a number of cities

Police responded to the protest by firing warning shots, but three people were “hit by ricochets” and taken to hospital.

They were later “arrested on suspicion of crime,” police said.

Unrest was also reported in the nearby city of Linkoping, where Mr Paludan had planned to hold a demonstration but he later cancelled.

Read more: Muhammad cartoonist dies in car crash while under police protection – reports

On Facebook, the politician said he made the decision because Swedish authorities were “completely incapable” of protecting him or themselves.

Over the past three days, violent clashes have been seen in Sweden’s capital city, Stockholm, as well as a number of other cities.

Police officers run during a protest ahead of a demonstration planned by Danish anti-Muslim politician Rasmus Paludan and his Stram Kurs party, which was to include a burning of the Muslim holy book, the Koran, in the park Sveaparken in Orebro, Sweden, April 15, 2022.Paul Wennerholm/ TT News Agency/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. SWEDEN OUT. NO COMMERCIAL OR EDITORIAL SALES IN SWEDEN.
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At least 12 officers have been injured

A dozen police officers were injured and four emergency vehicles were set alight in the central city of Orebro after riots broke out on Friday, due to Mr Paludan’s plan to burn a Koran there.

In the southern Swedish region of Landskrona, some protesters set cars, tyres, and bins on fire, while others erected a barrier to obstruct traffic.

Similar demonstrations took place in the country’s third-largest city, Malmo, which saw a city bus and other objects set alight.

Mr Paludan set up the Stram Kurs party in 2017 and it is now known for its anti-immigration and anti-Islam agenda.

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