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]
Accident and attacks
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]
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".[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]
See also
- 2003 & 2005 Malmö mosque arson attack
- 2010 & 2012 Malmö synagogue arson attack
- Arson attacks on asylum centres in Sweden
References
- ^ a b "Arson attack at Swedish mosque leaves five injured". euronews.
- ^ a b "Five hurt in mosque arson attack". thelocal.se.
- ^ a b "Uppsala mosque hit in third firebomb attack". thelocal.se.
- ^ a b c d "Sweden hit by third assault on mosque". Financial Times.(subscription required)
- ^ a b c d David Crouch. "Swedish mosque set ablaze in second suspected arson attack in a week". the Guardian.
- ^ a b "Sweden hit by third mosque arson attack in a week". straitstimes.com.
- ^ a b "Source: Police "no longer suspect arson" at Eskilstuna mosque". Sveriges Radio. 5 January 2015. Retrieved 22 April 2015.
- ^ a b "Local newspaper: Eskilstuna mosque fire caused by deep-fryer". Sveriges Radio. 9 March 2015.
- ^ a b "Report deep fryer started mosque fire". The Local. 9 March 2015.
- ^ a b "Second Swedish Mosque Targeted in Suspected Arson Attack". newsweek.com.
- ^ "Sweden hit by third mosque arson attack". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ "Sweden suffers third mosque arson attack in a week". The National.
- ^ "Swedes rally in support of mosques after arson attacks". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2018-12-31. Retrieved 2017-08-23.
- ^ ABC News. "Swedes Rally in Support of Mosques After Arson Attacks". ABC News. Archived from the original on 2015-01-09. Retrieved 2020-06-27.
- ^ "Swedes rally in support of Muslims after arson attacks against mosques". Fox News. Archived from the original on 2015-09-24. Retrieved 2015-01-03.