The following day, after Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven notoriously dismissed Trump's scathing remarks, arguing Sweden was doing well in terms of equality and human development, looting, violence and arsons broke out in Rinkeby. Police officers were pelted with rocks and had to open fire to quell the violence. Swedish national broadcaster SVT admitted that the shots were directed at the rioters. So far, zero arrests have been made following the disturbances, prompting accusations of incapacity from angry locals, Dagens Nyheter reported.
"All of a sudden, a bunch of people showed up and start throwing stones at the officers. The officers felt cornered and fired warning shots," Stockholm police spokesman Lars Byström told news outlet Fria Tider.
Earlier, Rinkeby, one of Sweden's numerous blighted areas, rife with crime and violence, became the scene of similar riots in 2010 and 2013.
Lotta Edholm, the opposition Vice Mayor of the City of Stockholm, claimed that local businessmen had previously complained about smash-and-grab assaults, vandalism, theft, intimidation and blackmail, which should have obviously sent alarm signals to the authorities.
"We cannot watch young people being recruited by hardened organized crime members, becoming 'mules' in drug smuggling or performing other crimes in exchange for 'protection' or other benefits," Lotta Edholm wrote in her opinion piece for the Swedish tabloid newspaper Expressen.
Last week, Trump baffled the public with unclear claims that something "was happening last night" in in Sweden, which provoked a strong reaction from the Swedish authorities and unleashed a series of internet jokes and memes tagged #LastNightinSweden. Later, Trump insisted that he was referring to rising migrant crime in general and not to any particular incident.
Give the public a break — The FAKE NEWS media is trying to say that large scale immigration in Sweden is working out just beautifully. NOT!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 20 февраля 2017 г.
Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt launched a series of tweets mocking Trump, insinuating he was out of touch with reality, while incumbent Foreign Minister Margot Wallström lamented the avalanche of "fake news," allegedly distorting Sweden's image, the Swedish tabloid newspaper Aftonbladet reported.
Sweden? Terror attack? What has he been smoking? Questions abound. https://t.co/XWgw8Fz7tj
— Carl Bildt (@carlbildt) 19 февраля 2017 г.
Just a piece of friendly advice: when you are in a hole, stop digging.
— Carl Bildt (@carlbildt) 20 февраля 2017 г.
To whom it might concern: here is what is happening in Sweden. All in all a rather pleasant place. https://t.co/PsnSqxSda6
— Carl Bildt (@carlbildt) 20 февраля 2017 г.
Sweden has been at pains to improve the country's image abroad. Last week, Swedish Radio launched a series of programs in English, clearly aimed at an international audience. Coincidentally, the very first episode featured a policeman trying to dismiss the problem of so-called "no-go zones," claiming the very concept was entirely wrong, since police were needed there around the clock.
