Anti-Islam Activist Salwan Momika Shot Dead In Sweden.
Salwan Momika, the Iraqi refugee known for publicly burning copies of the Koran, has been shot dead in Sweden while livestreaming on TikTok. The 38-year-old was attacked in an apartment in Södertälje on Wednesday night, in what Swedish authorities are treating as a serious criminal investigation.
According to local reports, police arrived at the scene to find Momika suffering from gunshot wounds. He was taken to hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. A video seen by MailOnline showed police switching off a phone that had been broadcasting the attack live.
Five people have been arrested in connection with the killing, though it remains unclear whether the gunman is among them. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson acknowledged the gravity of the incident, stating that national security agencies are “deeply involved” and investigating the possibility of foreign influence.
Momika gained international notoriety in 2023 for burning copies of the Koran during public demonstrations, sparking condemnation from Muslim-majority countries, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. His actions also led to protests in Iraq, where demonstrators stormed the Swedish embassy in Baghdad.
His killing comes just days before a Stockholm court was due to rule on whether he and his associate, Salwan Najem, were guilty of inciting ethnic hatred. Following news of Momika’s death, the ruling was postponed until 3 February. Najem reacted to the news by posting on social media, writing: “I’m next.”
Sweden’s security services had previously raised the country’s terror threat level to four out of five, citing the backlash from Momika’s actions as a contributing factor. The Swedish government had also sought to deport him in 2023, but the move was blocked over concerns that he would face inhumane treatment in Iraq.
Authorities continue to investigate the killing, as Sweden grapples with the security implications of the high-profile attack.