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WORLD NEWS Tuesday 19 april 2022
Sweden links riots to criminal gangs that target police

By JARI TANNER tions, which were met by
Associated Press counter-protesters in many
HELSINKI (AP) — Swedish places last week.
police said Monday that “We must put an end to this
the riots that have shaken early. What we see here is a
several cities and towns very serious crime,” Thorn-
in the Nordic country are berg said, referring to the
extremely serious crimes riots.
against society and sus- Justice Minister Morgan Jo-
pect some protesters are hansson said Monday that
linked to criminal gangs he continues to have great
that intentionally target po- confidence in the Swedish
lice. police despite the unrest
Sweden, a nation of 10 over the weekend and
million, has seen unrest, pledged more resources to
scuffles, arson and vio- law enforcement.
lence since Thursday that “When you end up in these
has left some police offi- critical and aggressive situ-
cers and protesters injured. ations, there’s nothing else
It was triggered by Danish police officers can do but
far-right politician Rasmus to put up a hard fight,”
Paludan’s meetings and Johansson told Swedish
planned Quran burnings news outlets. “We cannot
across the country. Protesters set fire to a police bus in the park Sveaparken in Orebro, Sweden, Friday, April 15, 2022. accept that perpetrators
“We suspect that those in- Associated Press commit this type of vio-
volved (in the riots) have Sweden’s third-largest central city of Orebro, the ing stressed that the main lence.”
links to criminal gangs,” Na- city, as an angry crowd of eastern cities of Linkoping target for the rioters was Iraq’s Foreign Ministry on
tional Police Commissioner mainly young people set and Norrkoping and south- Swedish police and soci- Sunday summoned Swe-
Anders Thornberg told a fire to car tires, debris and ern town of Landskrona. ety, not Paludan — seen by den’s charge d’affaires
news conference on Mon- garbage cans in the Rosen- Police have been forced many Swedes merely as an over Paludan’s planned
day, adding some of those gard district. to use weapons in self-de- agent provocateur — and Quran burnings, reportedly
“criminal individuals” are Protesters threw stones and fense, Hysing said. Three his Stram Kurs (Hard Line) saying that such activity
known to police. “I have police responded by firing people were hurt in Nor- party, which runs on an could seriously endanger
been in touch with the pub- tear gas into the crowd. rkoping on Sunday as they anti-immigrant, anti-Islam Sweden’s relations with the
lic prosecutor to prosecute A school and several cars were hit by ricochets as po- agenda. Muslim world.
these individuals.” were set on fire, but the sit- lice fired warning shots into Thornberg, Sweden’s su- In Iran, dozens of students
Sweden’s National Police uation calmed down early a crowd of protesters. preme police chief, said gathered Monday at Swe-
Commander Jonas Hysing Monday. “There is a lot to suggest “criminal individuals” who den’s embassy to protest
said Monday that 26 police A total of 11 people were that the police were tar- took advantage of the situ- Paludan’s planned Quran
and 14 individuals — pro- detained and three people geted,” Hysing said, adding ation with Paludan’s Swed- burnings.
testers or other people — arrested in Malmo. No seri- that some protesters were ish Easter tour and joined Chanting “Insulters of Quran
have been injured in the ous injuries were reported. suspected of attempted the riots, were the main sus- must be condemned!” they
riots and 20 police vehicles Since Thursday, in addition murder, aggravated as- pects for the violent flare- also repeated traditional
destroyed or damaged. to Malmo, riots, unrest and sault and violence against ups of violence. The unrest slogans such as “Death to
The latest riots broke out violent clashes have been an official. escalated quickly after America!” and “Death to
Sunday night in Malmo, reported in Stockholm, the Both Thornberg and Hys- Paludan’s first demonstra- Israel!”q

Turkey launches new ground,

air offensive in northern Iraq

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Hulusi Akar said in a video defense ministry statement
Turkey has launched a posted on the ministry’s couldn’t be verified inde-
new ground and air cross- website. pendently.
border offensive against Akar said the jets success- Turkey has conducted nu-
Kurdish militants in northern fully struck shelters, bunkers, merous cross-border aerial
Iraq, that has left at least caves, tunnels, ammunition and ground operations
19 suspected Kurdish rebels depots and headquarters against the PKK over the
dead and has wounded belonging to the PKK. The past decades. The latest of-
at least four Turkish soldiers, group maintains bases in fensive, named Operation
Turkey’s defense minister northern Iraq and has used Claw Lock, was centered
said Monday. the territory for attacks on in northern Iraq’s Metina, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar arrives for a meeting of
Turkish jets and artillery Turkey. Zap and Avashin-Basyan the North Atlantic Council with Georgia and Ukraine at NATO
struck suspected targets of At least 19 militants were regions. headquarters in Brussels, Thursday, Feb. 17, 2022.
Associated Press
the Kurdistan Workers’ Par- killed while four Turkish There was no information
ty, or PKK, and commando troops were wounded dur- on the number of troops ters, unmanned aerial ve- a second video. “Many ter-
troops — supported by heli- ing the offensive, the min- and jets involved in the lat- hicles, armed unmanned rorists were neutralized.”
copters and drones — then istry said. There was no im- est incursion. aerial vehicles — arrived on “At this point we have
crossed into the region by mediate comment from “Our heroic commandoes the scene by land and by reached, all planned tar-
land or were airlifted by he- the Kurdish militant group and maroon berets — sup- air and captured the deter- gets have been captured,”
licopters, Defense Minister on the incursion and the ported by attack helicop- mined targets,” Akar said in he said.q