Salwan Momika, an Iraqi Christian man who sparked controversy by burning copies of the Quran in Sweden, was shot at his home in Stockholm on Wednesday night and died the following morning, according to local reports. Swedish police confirmed that five suspects have been taken into custody and that the country’s security services are involved in the investigation due to possible links to foreign powers.
Authorities responded to a suspected shooting at an apartment in Soodertalje, a Stockholm suburb, just after 11 pm local time where officers discovered Momika with gunshot wounds and transported him to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries on Thursday morning.
Local media reported that Momika may have been filming himself or livestreaming online at the time of the shooting. The Swedish government has not disclosed any potential motives behind the killing, but Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson acknowledged the possibility of foreign involvement, stating that there was “obviously a risk that there were links to foreign powers," reports SVT.
Momika gained international attention in 2023 after publicly burning a Quran outside Stockholm’s Central Mosque, an act that triggered violent Muslim counter-protests and diplomatic tensions between Sweden and several Muslim-majority countries. Following his demonstrations, the Swedish embassy in Baghdad was stormed twice, and Sweden’s ambassador was expelled amid growing unrest.
The Iraqi immigrant was charged in August with "agitation against an ethnic group" in connection with multiple Quran burnings over the summer. His trial verdict was scheduled for Thursday.
Beyond his Quran protests, Momika was outspoken on social media, frequently posting pro-Israel content, displaying the Israeli flag at demonstrations, and burning a Palestinian flag, the BBC reports
Swedish police had previously permitted Momika’s protests under the country’s free speech laws, though the government later considered legal changes to restrict protests that involve burning religious texts in certain circumstances.
The killing has drawn international reactions, including from Dutch anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders, who condemned the attack, stating, “I hope the perpetrators of this vicious act will go to jail for life. Terrible news. May he rest in peace.”
