Meanwhile in Sweden… Muslims react to burning of Quran

Muslim riots in the evening of Friday August 28, 2020, in the immigrant ghetto of Rosengård in Malmö, Sweden’s third largest city. The Danish politician Rasmus Paludan wanted to exercise his freedom of speech and protest against Islam, which he believes is not compatible with Western society.

He was denied entry into Sweden by police and was handed a two years travel ban to Sweden. His supporters however managed to burn a copy of the Quran in the middle of Rosengård. Hundreds of Muslims took to the streets and during the night fires were set, lamp poles were toppled and advertising stands smashed.

Unlike the peaceful critics of Islam who were arrested almost immediately on suspicion of inciting ethnic groups after they kicked a Quran, hundreds of Muslims were allowed to throw stones and burn cars – for eight hours.

The Swedish police chose to be passive but that did not buy them any goodwill from the mob. At 20:45, the crowd made a rush towards the police who had not prepared for riots and were not equipped with riot gear. Officers were forced to retreat during a hailstorm of eggs and rocks while “Allahu akbar” echoed from the crowd.

Police were exposed to stone-throwing and police cars and the rescue service’s vehicles were damaged during the ongoing riot. “There are a lot of reports of vandalism through fire and ordinary vandalism, police spokesman Patric Fors told DN.

It was not until 11 pm that the police, who had by then received reinforcements, managed to repel the mob who had wanted to move towards central Malmö from Rosengård. Admiralsgatan was not opened until 02.30, but stone-throwing and riots around the area continued until 03.30 before the situation calmed down.

The police, who were so quick to intervene when Islamic critics demonstrated, were all the more cautious during the evening and night. Despite classifying it as a riot around 21.00 and thus having the right to not only disperse, but also arrest everyone involved, the police chose to hold back.

In total, only five people were arrested on suspicion of violent rioting, far fewer than the actual culprits who had been identified. They are also looking for, among other things, a woman who is believed to have been an instigator of the riot as she urged other Muslims to commit violent acts during the riots. On Saturday morning, the police announced that all suspects had been released.

About 20 fires, including burned cars, are now being investigated by the police. Several police officers were injured during the riot, but the exact number is unknown.

“No private individuals have been injured, but among the police there are a few who are slightly injured, said Patric Fors, the police’s press spokesperson in the South region to Kvällsposten.

Swedish police however fear more riots. Extensive immigrant riots are something that is seen as one of the most dangerous possible scenarios insider sources confided to Swedish weekly Nya Tider.

Documents describe and compare such a development with immigrant riots in France. The state would lack the ability to curb such riots if they were given room to grow over time.

Police unionist Sophia Willander believes that the issue of what means the police have in similar situations is critical: “We risk being handcuffed. In other countries it is possible to insert water cannons and rubber bullets, while we must constantly talk about what means we should have here.”