Two arrested amid Sweden riots after latest Quran burning

Swedish police say they arrested two people and detained around 10 others after a violent riot broke out at a protest involving a burning of the Quran, police said.

The protest was organized by Iraqi refugee Salwan Momika, whose protests — which have included public desecrations of the Muslim holy book — have sparked outrage across the Middle East.

Sunday’s protest was held in a square in the southern city of Malmo, which has a large immigrant population, and according to public broadcaster SVT around 200 people had showed up to watch.

“Some onlookers have shown upset feelings, after the organizer burned writings,” police say in a statement.

“The mood was at times heated,” the statement says, adding that a “violent riot” occurred.

Local media report that some onlookers threw rocks at Momika, and video from the scene showed some trying to break through the cordon before being stopped by police.

In another video a man could be scene trying to stop the police car that transported Momika from the location by getting in front of it.

Through a series of demonstrations, Momika has sparked anger directed at Sweden and diplomatic tensions between Sweden and several Middle Eastern countries.

In July, Israel protested after Sweden gave permission to a protester to burn a Torah, though the demonstrator said he only intended to make a point about the Quran burnings and never planned to set a Torah alight.