Violence continues in Stockholm as Swedish rioting mirrors London 2011 unrest

By Dilip -

Riots continued to spread across the Stockholm last night, echoing the civil unrest of Britain’s 2011 riots as police were attacked and vehicles torched. Unrest is now believed to have spread to 15 suburbs across the capital, with large numbers of youths attempting to block emergency services by hurling rocks at them. According to Swedish paper The Local a police station in the Rågsved suburb has also been set on fire and officers had to escort young people to other parts of the city in a police bus. By 2am this morning, fire fighters had attended between 75 and 80 incidents.

Fire fighters spoke of their shock at the extent of the rioting, saying they have “never before seen so many fires raging at the same time.” Police spokesman Kjell Lindgren said at least 30 vehicles were set ablaze across western and southern Stockholm by the early hours of Thursday morning.  Rioting youths have also burned down a restaurant in Skogas, south of Stockholm.

The unrest began on Sunday evening in lower income areas of the capital, in response to the May 13 shooting where police killed a 69-year-old, knife-wielding man in a north-western suburb of Husby. Lindgren said a 16-year-old girl was briefly detained on suspicion of preparing an arson attack, but was later sent home to her parents.

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