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Massive unrest in Sweden overnight as masked youths set scores of cars on fire (PHOTOS, VIDEO) Swedish PM ‘pissed off’ as masked youths set scores of cars on fire across country (PHOTOS, VIDEO)
(about 5 hours later)
Dozens of parked cars have been set on fire overnight in Swedish cities in what authorities believe could be coordinated acts of arson. It is not clear if the perpetrators, described as masked youths, have been caught. Youths have vandalized Swedish cities unhindered overnight, setting fire to dozens of cars in what are believed to be coordinated acts of arson. The attacks infuriated officials, with a minister demanding “the thugs” be punished.
The total of around 80 vehicles were vandalized on Monday evening, according to Swedish police. Various footage circulating on social media shows cars being set on fire on parking lots in several cities, including dozens of incidents in Gothenburg, Trollhättan, Lysekil and Falkenberg. Masked youths went on the rampage in various Swedish cities on Monday evening, setting ablaze around 80 vehicles, according to police. Cars in parking lots were seen burning in dramatic footage taken in Gothenburg, Trollhättan, Lysekil and Falkenberg, as well as in Stockholm and Uppsala, where an additional 13 vehicles were attacked, according to the Expressen tabloid.
Masked people dressed in black are seen on some of the videos. Witnesses told local media that they saw the attackers throwing Molotov cocktails at the vehicles. Some also reportedly threw stones at the police and impeded firefighters to battle the blazes.  The series of arson attacks are believed to be linked, with Gothenburg police suggesting that the perpetrators, some of whom are identified as underage, used social media to coordinate the acts, spokesperson Ulla Brehm told SVT. 
Arson attacks also occurred in Stockholm and Uppsala where at least 13 cars were burned, according to Expressen tabloid. Up to 60 youths reportedly were involved in the attacks, but police have not reported any arrests so far. Up to 60 youths were involved, with the largest group apparently having gathered in Trollhattan, north of Gothenburg. However, the police decided not to take action on the spot and no arrests were reported. Arson attacks have previously wreaked havoc in Sweden and police were sometimes unable to catch the perpetrators.
“While most fires started within a short period of time, it cannot be excluded that there is a connection between the fires, the case will be investigated,” Swedish police said in a statement, adding that the attacks are being further investigated. The violence comes just three weeks before the Swedish general election on September 9. Prime Minister Stefan Löfven was infuriated by the violence, saying he was “pissed off.”
However, southern police spokesperson Fredrik Bratt believes that fires in the area are not linked to the ones in Gothenburg, calling them “not completely out of the ordinary.”  “What the hell are you doing?”he said, referring to the attackers, as reported by the Local citing Swedish radio. 
The violence comes just three weeks before Swedish general election, that is to take place on September 9. Justice and Interior Minister Morgan Johansson called the attacks “despicable,” adding that he hopes “the thugs” get arrested. The minister also said that last year the government had increased the punishment for aggravated vandalism, which can now be met with up to six years in jail. 
Sweden has recently been hit by significant crime waves, including instances of vandalism, rapes and murders, with police accused of failing to handle them in some quarters. Last year, the country saw more than 300 confirmed shooting incidents, which left 41 people dead and 135 injured.
The police simply lacks adequate resources to combat the scourge of crime that is sweeping parts of the country, Swedish Democrats party member Nima Gholam Ali Pour told RT. He also said that the influx of migrants has badly exacerbated the social and criminal situation.
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