A man who sparked violent protests by burning the Quran in Sweden has been shot and killed, according to local media reports.
Salwan Momika, 38, was found dead in an apartment in Södertälje, Stockholm, on Wednesday night. His controversial actions in 2023, when he burned a copy of the Quran outside Stockholm’s Central Mosque, ignited widespread unrest.
Read More: Iraq Expels Swedish Ambassador After Quran Desecration
Stockholm police confirmed that five individuals were arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a man in his 40s. Authorities responded to gunfire reports at an apartment in Hovsjö around 11:11 p.m. local time. The victim, found with gunshot wounds, was rushed to the hospital but later succumbed to his injuries.
Local media indicated that Momika had been livestreaming on social media around the time of the shooting. In August 2023, he faced legal charges in Sweden for “agitation against an ethnic group” related to several incidents over the summer. A court was set to deliver a verdict on Thursday but postponed it after confirming his death.
Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson mentioned that security agencies were investigating the case due to potential foreign connections. Momika’s protests had angered Muslim-majority countries, leading to diplomatic tensions, including the expulsion of Sweden’s ambassador from Iraq.
