2014 mosque arson attacks in 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] |
Motive |
Anti-immigration
[5] Anti-Islam [5] |
The 2014 Sweden mosques arson attacks were a series of incidents all of which were initially believed to be arson attacks on three mosques in Sweden, that took place during one week at the end of 2014. [4] In the third incident, in addition to being struck by a Molotov cocktail, the mosque at Uppsala was vandalized with racist graffiti. [4] [6]
The first incident, the only one to have caused injuries, was found to have been an accident in the mosque kitchen caused by an overheated deep-fryer. [7] [8] [9]
On Christmas Day, 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. [7] It was later reported that an overheated deep-fryer was the probable cause of the fire. [8] [9]
The second event (and first indisputable arson attack) took place on 29 December in the southern Swedish town of Eslöv just after 3 am local time. No one was injured on that occasion. [5] [10]
Early on New Year's morning, there was another arson attack on a mosque, this time in Uppsala. [3] [11] [12] In this attack the mosque was also vandalized with racist graffiti. [6]
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]
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". [10][ citation needed]
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." [5]
On January 2, 2015, hundreds of anti-racist demonstrators in three major Swedish cities rallied in support of Muslims. [14] [15]
2014 mosque arson attacks in 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] |
Motive |
Anti-immigration
[5] Anti-Islam [5] |
The 2014 Sweden mosques arson attacks were a series of incidents all of which were initially believed to be arson attacks on three mosques in Sweden, that took place during one week at the end of 2014. [4] In the third incident, in addition to being struck by a Molotov cocktail, the mosque at Uppsala was vandalized with racist graffiti. [4] [6]
The first incident, the only one to have caused injuries, was found to have been an accident in the mosque kitchen caused by an overheated deep-fryer. [7] [8] [9]
On Christmas Day, 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. [7] It was later reported that an overheated deep-fryer was the probable cause of the fire. [8] [9]
The second event (and first indisputable arson attack) took place on 29 December in the southern Swedish town of Eslöv just after 3 am local time. No one was injured on that occasion. [5] [10]
Early on New Year's morning, there was another arson attack on a mosque, this time in Uppsala. [3] [11] [12] In this attack the mosque was also vandalized with racist graffiti. [6]
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]
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". [10][ citation needed]
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." [5]
On January 2, 2015, hundreds of anti-racist demonstrators in three major Swedish cities rallied in support of Muslims. [14] [15]