30 Aug 2020

Protest against Koran-burning turns violent in Sweden

5:38 pm on 30 August 2020

Protesters against the burning of a Koran by far-right supporters in Sweden have clashed with police during several hours of rioting.

Demonstrators burn tyres during clashes with police in the Rosengard neighbourhood of Malmo, Sweden, on August 28, 2020.

Photo: AFP

Cars were set on fire and shop fronts were damaged in the clashes in the southern city of Malmö. There were several arrests before the riots were brought under control.

Earlier this week, police barred far-right Danish politician Rasmus Paludan from attending the Koran-burning rally.

His supporters went ahead regardless.

Swedish police turned Paludan back at the border, saying there was a two-year entry ban for him.

The head of the Danish far-right Stram Kurs (Hard Line) party, Paludan was given a month in jail for a string of offences including racism in Denmark early this year.

He was convicted of posting anti-Islam videos on his party's social media channels.

- BBC