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50 people held in Denmark after sixth night of violence
Police arrested 50 people after groups of youths set fires to schools, cars and trash bins in a sixth consecutive night of violence - mostly in immigrant neighbourhoods of Danish cities - police officials said on Saturday.
- Agencies
- Published: 01:26 February 17, 2008
Copenhagen: Police arrested 50 people after groups of youths set fires to schools, cars and trash bins in a sixth consecutive night of violence - mostly in immigrant neighbourhoods of Danish cities - police officials said on Saturday.
The spate of vandalism started last weekend and some believe it intensified with the reproduction of a cartoon depicting the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) in Danish newspapers on Wednesday, motivating the publication as a statement for free speech.
Police spokesman Jan Marker said the overnight violence was spread across all of Denmark, with arrests made in Copenhagen, Aarhus, Ringsted, Slagelse and other cities.
The government stressed on Friday it had zero tolerance for the troublemakers, less than a year after violent riots raged for days in Copenhagen over the closure of a youth centre.
While last year's riots were caused by youths angry over the closure of the youth centre, this time around authorities were at a loss to explain the violence.
Imam calls for calm
A Doha-based imam has called on Muslims to restrain their anger and react in a "civilised way" to the republishing of a cartoon on Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) they considered offensive.
Shaikh Hilal Mabrouq told worshippers on Friday they should not let the West drag them into violent protests again.
"The scheme of the enemies of Islam is to drag Muslims into a battle again and make them look like violent people. We should express our objections to such blasphemy in a civilised way," he said addressing his sermon at the Shaikha Naela Al Thani mosque.
All major Danish newspapers on Wednesday decided to republish a cartoon featuring the Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).
- Barbara Bibbo', Correspondent
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