Riots in Sweden as demonstrators protest against plans by far-right group to burn copies of Koran
- Demonstrators had protested against a rally by anti-immigration and anti-Islam group Hard Line, led by the Danish-Swedish politician Rasmus Paludan
- Paludan, who intends to stand in Swedish legislative elections in September, is visiting areas with large Muslim populations where he wants to burn copies of the Koran
Swedish police said officers wounded three people on Sunday in the eastern city of Norrkoping as demonstrators protested plans by a far-right group to burn copies of the Koran.
“Police fired several warning shots. Three people appear to have been hit by ricochets and are currently being treated in hospital”, police said in a statement.
The three who were injured were under arrest, police said, adding that their condition was not known.
On the first occasion, the demonstrators had protested against a rally by anti-immigration and anti-Islam group Hard Line, led by the Danish-Swedish politician Rasmus Paludan, 40.
On Sunday, they rallied again in protest against another gathering, which in the end Paludan abandoned.
Four people were arrested among the participants, who numbered around 150, as protesters threw stones at officers and cars were set on fire, police said.
According to health services quoted by local news agency TT, 10 people were hospitalised with minor injuries following the clashes and similar unrest in the neighbouring town of Linkpping, where far-right Hard Line also abandoned a demonstration.