2014 mosque arson attacks in Sweden

2014 mosque arson attacks in Sweden
Eslöv
Uppsala
Eskilstuna
2014 mosque arson attacks in Sweden (Sweden)
Location Eslöv, Uppsala and Eskilstuna, Sweden
Date 25 December 2014[1][2]–
1 January 2015[3]
Attack type
 Arson[4]
Weapons Molotov cocktails[4]
Suspected perpetrators
 Right wing extremists[5][6]
Motive Anti-immigration[6]
Anti-Islam[6]

The 2014 Sweden mosques arson attacks were a series of arson attacks on three mosques in Sweden that took place during one week at the end of 2014.[4] In addition to being struck by Molotov cocktails, some mosques were vandalized with racist graffiti.[4][7] The first incident, the only to have caused injuries, was however later found by police investigations to have been an accident in the mosque kitchen caused by an overheated deep-fryer.[8][9][10]

Attacks

On Christmas, five people suffered injuries when, according to early reports, a petrol bomb had been tossed through the window of a mosque in Eskilstuna. Up to 20 people, including children, were in the mosque at the time of the attack.[1][2] Police later said they were investigating the incident as an accident, considering it unlikely to have been a deliberate attack.[8] It was later reported that an overheated deep-fryer was the probable cause of the fire.[9][10]

The second attack took place on Monday in the southern Swedish town of Eslöv just after 3 am local time. No one was injured on that occasion.[6][5] Early on New Year’s morning, a third attack hit a mosque in Uppsala.[3][11][12]

Background

The attacks happened at a time of rising anti-immigrant sentiment and political tension over Sweden's status as the leading destination in the European Union (per capita) for asylum seekers.[13]

Response

Prime Minister Stefan Löfven said that the attacks were "hateful violence" and denounced the crime. He said that the attacks were not representative of Sweden. and that "no-one in Sweden should be afraid of practicing their religion".

Samir Muric, the imam in Eslöv, told a Swedish news agency: "Unfortunately this is probably something to do with Islamophobia. I live nearby, and it’s beginning to feel unsafe."

On January 2, 2015, hundreds of anti-racist demonstrators in three major Swedish cities rallied in support of Muslims.[14][15]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Arson attack at Swedish mosque leaves five injured". euronews.
  2. 1 2 "Five hurt in mosque arson attack". thelocal.se.
  3. 1 2 "Uppsala mosque hit in third firebomb attack". thelocal.se.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Sweden hit by third assault on mosque". Financial Times.
  5. 1 2 "Second Swedish Mosque Targeted in Suspected Arson Attack". newsweek.com.
  6. 1 2 3 4 David Crouch. "Swedish mosque set ablaze in second suspected arson attack in a week". the Guardian.
  7. ↑ "Sweden hit by third mosque arson attack in a week". straitstimes.com.
  8. 1 2 "Source: Police "no longer suspect arson" at Eskilstuna mosque". Sveriges Radio. 5 January 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
  9. 1 2 "Local newspaper: Eskilstuna mosque fire caused by deep-fryer". Sveriges Radio. 9 March 2015.
  10. 1 2 "Report deep fryer started mosque fire". The Local. 9 March 2015.
  11. ↑ "Sweden hit by third mosque arson attack". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  12. ↑ "Sweden suffers third mosque arson attack in a week". The National.
  13. ↑ "Swedes rally in support of mosques after arson attacks". Washington Post.
  14. ↑ ABC News. "Swedes Rally in Support of Mosques After Arson Attacks". ABC News.
  15. ↑ "Swedes rally in support of Muslims after arson attacks against mosques". Fox News.
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