Officer Fires on Rioters Outside Swedish Capital

Cars were torched and businesses looted Monday outside Stockholm
By Michael Harthorne,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 21, 2017 4:14 PM CST
Officer Fires on Rioters Outside Swedish Capital
In this picture taken on Monday, Feb. 20, 2017, firefighters survey the scene in the suburb of Rinkeby outside Stockholm.   (Christine Olsson/TT News Agency via AP)

At least one police officer opened fire on rioters Monday in a Swedish neighborhood with a large immigrant population, CNN reports. According to the AP, the unrest started while officers were attempting to arrest a resident suspected in a drug crime. Bystanders threw rocks, one of which hit an officer in the arm. A number of officers fired warning shots, but one fired directly at rioters. Police tell the Local no one was found injured at the scene, and there were no gunshot wounds being treated at area hospitals. Rioting in the Rinkeby suburb of Stockholm lasted for a few hours. At least 10 cars were set on fire, and a news photographer was reportedly attacked.

The rioting took place two days after President Trump seemed to allude to a nonexistent incident in Sweden while apparently referring to a Fox News piece on immigrants and crime rates in the country. Swedes reacted with confusion to Trump's statements, and many deny Monday's rioting has anything to do with the recent influx of refugees. Sweden has accepted more refugees per capita than any other European country in the past few years, but officials say crime rates are not rising and are comparable to or better than those in the US. Most of the unrest in Sweden takes place in areas settled by immigrants decades ago and has more to do with unemployment and gangs. Police say Monday's rioting was likely the result of "increased pressure on criminals in the area." (More Sweden stories.)

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