An Iraqi man who incinerated some copies of Quran in Sweden has been shot dead near Stockholm, The Associated Press reported on Thursday.
Salwan Momika, 38, staged several burnings and desecrations of Islam’s holy book in Sweden in 2023.
Videos of the Quran burnings got worldwide publicity, instigating anger and criticism in several Muslim nations, leading to riots and unrest in many places.
The Stockholm District Court said a verdict scheduled Thursday in a trial in which Momika was a defendant was postponed because one of the defendants had died.
A judge at the court, Göran Lundahl, confirmed that the deceased was Momika. He said he didn’t have any information on when or how Momika died.
Police said they were alerted to a shooting Wednesday night at an apartment building in Sodertalje, near Stockholm, and found a man with gunshot wounds who later died.
Broadcaster SVT reported that the victim was Momika.
Prosecutors said five people were arrested overnight on suspicion of murder. They said all were adults but gave no further details.
The investigation is still in its early stages and that the suspects and others still have to be questioned, prosecutor Rasmus Öman said. (With inputs from AP)
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