'Foreign power' behind murder of Quran-burner Salwan Momika: Sweden
World | An investigation has been launched into the murder and five people have been arrested so far after Momika was shot on Thursday (Jan 30) and was declared dead in the hospital.
Sweden's Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson claimed a "foreign power" was behind the murder of Salwan Momika, the Iraqi refugee who burnt the Quran during protests in 2023.
"I can guarantee that the security services are deeply involved in this because there is obviously a risk that there is also a link to a foreign power," the PM said in a press conference, AFP reported.
Also read: Killing of Salwan Momika, man who burnt Quran, broadcast live on social media, suggest reports
Momika, a Christian from Iraq, spiked international tensions in 2023 by staging the Quran burnings. He was shot just hours before a court verdict in his trial in the case that charged him with "agitation against an ethnic group".
'I'm next on the list'
An investigation has been launched into the murder, and five people have been arrested so far after Momika was shot on Thursday (Jan 30) and was declared dead in the hospital.
)
Afghanistan seeks Indian seeds and technology to boost farming and food security
)
Japanese researchers find invisible gold in massive quantities hiding beneath seafloor
)
Russia-Ukraine war: Putin urges remote work after massive Ukrainian strikes
)
195 kisses in 30 seconds: Brazilian couple sets unusual Guinness World Record
)
Tom Holland on why The Odyssey will be celebrated by Indians who crave larger-than-life cinema
)
World's first once-a-week insulin launched in India: Here's how much it costs
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How much does a B-52 bomber cost?
)
Fact Check: Viral photo shows Trump leaning in for a kiss with Brigitte Macron. Here is the full truth
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Who is Linda Noskova? Meet the new Wimbledon 2026 women's singles champion
)
Why do Nepal students, who made him PM, want Balen Shah to resign | WION Decodes
)
Man claims he travelled to year 3700. Robots had killed 30% of humans. Here is what else he says he saw
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the F-22 cockpit is much smaller than you might expect
)
From 96% to 3 zeros: Professor suspected AI cheating in remote exam. What he did next exposed 57 of 59 students
)
HIMARS launched from Bahrain? US launches BIG attack on Iran after Hormuz closure, Hegseth says 'now they pay'
)
US Senator Lindsey Graham, key Trump ally, dies after 'sudden illness'; Trump says 'will be greatly missed': Who was he
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
From Odysseus to Athena: Who’s who in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey? Full cast guide
)
'I requested...': Trump taken to Walter Reed hospital amid Iran strikes? What we know
)
Afghanistan’s top diplomat in Delhi seeks India’s help in water management, agriculture modernisation
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why are the B-52 bomber's tyres different from those on most aircraft?
)
Sucked into another dimension? Rumours swirl physicist vanished while working on science of 'being in two places at once'
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why does the B-52 bomber still use eight engines?
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How can the B-52 bomber carry so many different types of weapons?
)
Was Lindsey Graham poisoned? Laura Loomer points finger at Russia and Iran
)
US military withdraws stealth fighter jets from Israeli airbase even as tensions with Iran flare up again
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why the B-52 bomber is outliving newer bombers
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
How many tires does a B-52 bomber have?
)
Wimbledon 2026: Karolina Muchova's 'ex-friend' joke steals the show after final heartbreak
)
Can Trump really order Iran’s destruction if he is assassinated? Here’s what US law says
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
Why Russian fighter jets leave exhaust pipes raw compared to US jets
)
Avengers-Doomsday: Marvel Studios unveils concept poster featuring Thor, Loki, Steve Rogers and more | Watch
)
UK tells female soldiers to double their diet and sleep more to match male soldiers
)
18 women developed kidney problems in Nagpur. Medical probe found a common culprit
)
Why England's equaliser vs Norway was so controversial: FIFA explains camera wire incident
&im=FitAndFill=(700,400))
7 engineering features that make the B-52 bomber so unique
)
₹2,000: The last of the pink notes face quiet exit as RBI confirms 98.5% of currency returned
"We're in the very early stages... there's a lot of information gathering. Five people have been detained suspected of involvement in the crime," Prosecutor Rasmus Oman told AFP.
Several media outlets further claimed the shooting may have been broadcast live on social media.
Salwan Najem, a fellow protester who took part in the Quran burning, is also facing the trial. After the murder of Momika, Najem took to the social media platform X and said, "I'm next on the list."
Jag är nästahttps://t.co/BbXL5P9lga
'Did not want to...'
The Swedish Migration Agency had decided to expel Momika after his act in 2023, but due to the threat against him in Iraq, the decision was not implemented.
Speaking to Aftonbladet in 2023, Momika had said he did not want to harm Sweden, a country that "received" him and "preserved" his dignity.
(With inputs from agencies)
