Several injured as new clashes erupt over anti-immigration rally in Sweden
Why did the protests start?
The violence began after a protest being organised by Rasmus Paludan, 40, the leader of the far-right political party Hard Line, on Thursday and he even got several permissions to protest across Sweden over the Easter holidays. He’s currently on a tour all around Sweden.
A lawyer and Youtuber, who plans to run in the Swedish legislative elections in September does not yet have the required number of signatures to secure his candidacy previously has been convicted for racist insults previously. He burned a Quran wrapped in bacon in 2019 and was banned from Facebook in 2019 for a month following a post conflating immigration and crime.
People injured during clashes
According to a police statement as quoted by the news agency AFP: "Police fired several warning shots. Three people appear to have been hit by ricochets and are currently being treated in hospital."
As per the Swedish police, those who were injured were arrested but their conditions were unknown.
The local news agency TT reported that 10 individuals were hospitalised with some minor injuries.
Anti-immigration rally in Sweden
Previously, the demonstrators had protested against a rally by anti-immigration and anti-Islam group Hard Line, led by the Danish-Swedish politician Paludan.
Again on Sunday, they rallied again in protest of another gathering, which in the end Paludan abandoned.
In some places, counter-protesters attacked police ahead of planned right-wing extremist demonstrations. Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson has condemned the violence.
Protesters attack police
As per the police, four people were arrested amongst nearly 150 participants after the protesters threw stones at officers and set cars on fire.
Three police officers had to be taken to hospital after a riot broke out in the city of Linkoping in eastern Sweden on Thursday. Two people were arrested at that protest.
And on Friday, nine police officers were injured in similar clashes in Orebro in central Sweden.
Swedish charge d’affaires summoned
After the series of incidents, Iraq’s foreign Ministry on Sunday announced that the Swedish charge d’affaires in Baghdad had been summoned.
Iraq also warned that these incidents can have severe consequences for relations between Sweden and Muslims in general, both Muslim and Arab countries and even the Muslim communities in Europe.
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