A man has been arrested after a video appeared to show him burning a Quran page by page in Manchester two days after a man was shot dead in Sweden for doing the same thing.
The man, 47, was arrested on suspicion of a ‘racially aggravated public order offence’ near the city’s Glade of Light Memorial, according to police.
He still remains in custody after the burning was live-streamed on social media next to the memorial that commemorates the victims of the 2017 Manchester Arena terrorist attack.
It comes just two days after Salwan Momika, a Swedish anti-Islam activist, was shot dead near Stockholm after he burned the Quran in 2023.
Greater Manchester Police’s Assistant Chief Constable Stephanie Parker told GB News: ‘We understand the deep concern this will cause within some of our diverse communities and are aware of a live video circulating.
‘We made a swift arrest at the time and recognise the right people have for freedom of expression, but when this crosses into intimidation to cause harm or distress we will always look to take action when it is reported to us.’
A GMP spokesperson also said: ‘At around 2.45pm today (Saturday February 1, 2025) we arrested a 47-year-old man on suspicion of a racially aggravated public order offence following an incident in the city centre at the Glade of Light memorial.
‘He remains in custody currently for questioning. Anyone with further information is asked to call 101 quoting incident 3713 of 31/01/2025.’
Momika, 38, was ruthlessly gunned down in an apartment in the city of Sodertalje on Wednesday night.
Swedish media reported that Momika was streaming live on TikTok at the time he was shot.
A video seen by MailOnline showed police picking up a phone and ending a livestream that appeared to be from Momika’s TikTok account.
The Iraqi refugee was notorious for staging public demonstrations where he burnt and destroyed the Islamic holy book – a stunt that enraged Muslims around the world.
A Stockholm court was due to rule on Thursday whether Momika, a Christian Iraqi who burned Korans at a slew of protest in 2023, and his co-protester Salwan Najem, were guilty of inciting ethnic hatred.
According to the charge sheet, the duo had desecrated and burned the Koran and had also made derogatory remarks about Muslims.
It postponed the ruling to February 3, saying that ‘because Salwan Momika has died, more time is needed’.
Najem tweeted this morning: ‘I’m next’.
Police said they rushed to the scene, where they found Momika suffering from gun wounds. He was rushed to hospital and was later confirmed dead.
Tabloid Aftonbladet reported that the shooter was able to enter the building through the roof.
Five people have been arrested in connection to Momika’s death, police said on their website. They did not say if the shooter was among those detained.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson addressed Momika’s murder in a press conference in Stockholm.
‘I can assure you that the security services are deeply involved because there is obviously a risk that there is a connection to a foreign power,’ he said.
Momika first sparked global anger in June 2023 when he set a Koran on fire and stomped on the holy book outside Stockholm’s main mosque, with several Muslim countries condemning Sweden for allowing the Iraqi man to perform the act during the Eid al-Adha holiday and the annual hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.
Burning the Koran is seen by Muslims as a blasphemous act because they consider it the literal word of God.
Saudi Arabia, Iran, Morocco, Bahrain and the UAE joined in the chorus of condemnation, with the US also calling the protest ‘disrespectful and hurtful’.
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