Violence Erupts in Swedish Town of Malmo After Anti-Islam Actions, Police Say

Violence Erupts in Swedish Town of Malmo After Anti-Islam Actions, Police Say
Smoke billows from the burning tyres, pallets, and fireworks during a riot in the Rosengard neighborhood of Malmo, Sweden on Aug. 28, 2020. (TT News Agency via Reuters)
Reuters
8/29/2020
Updated:
8/29/2020

STOCKHOLM—A riot broke out on Friday in the southern Swedish town of Malmo, where at least 300 people had gathered to protest against anti-Islam activities, police said.

Protesters were throwing objects at police officers and car tyres had been set on fire, a police spokesman said. Earlier in the day, a copy of the Quran had been burned in Malmo by anti-Islam activists.

Demonstrators throw stones at police officers during a riot in the Rosengard neighbourhood of Malmo, Sweden, on Aug. 28, 2020. (TT News Agency via Reuters)
Demonstrators throw stones at police officers during a riot in the Rosengard neighbourhood of Malmo, Sweden, on Aug. 28, 2020. (TT News Agency via Reuters)
Demonstrators burn tyres during a riot in the Rosengard neighborhood of Malmo, Sweden, on Aug. 28, 2020. (TT News Agency via Reuters)
Demonstrators burn tyres during a riot in the Rosengard neighborhood of Malmo, Sweden, on Aug. 28, 2020. (TT News Agency via Reuters)

“We don’t have this under control but we are working actively to take control,” the spokesman said.

“We see a connection between what is happening now and what happened earlier today,” he said.

The demonstrations had escalated in the same place where the Quran had been burned, the spokesman said.

Police officers walk amid smoke from the burning tyres, pallets and fireworks during a riot in the Rosengard neighborhood of Malmo, Sweden, on Aug. 28, 2020. (TT News Agency via Reuters)
Police officers walk amid smoke from the burning tyres, pallets and fireworks during a riot in the Rosengard neighborhood of Malmo, Sweden, on Aug. 28, 2020. (TT News Agency via Reuters)

Daily Aftonbladet said several anti-Islam activities had taken place in Malmo on Friday, including three men kicking a copy of the Quran between them in a public square.

The anti-Islam protests occurred after Rasmus Paludan, leader of Danish ethnonationalist, anti-immigration political party Hard Line, had been denied permission to have a meeting in Malmo and was stopped at the Swedish border, according to the newspaper.

The Epoch Times contributed to this report