Sweden riots spread beyond Stockholm despite extra police

Taken From: BBC News Europe

Date Published: May 25th, 2013

Firefighters putting out a car set on fire.

Summary: It has been the sixth night of rioting in Sweden's capital Stockholm, despite having police and reinforcements present. Many cars were set on fire in poor suburbs inhabited largely by immigrants. The rioting has spread out side of Stockholm, with youths setting fire to more vehicles and buildings in two towns.  The United States and United Kingdom have already warned their citizens that stay out of that area. It is believed the rioting was sparked by the death of an elderly man nearly a week before, when he was shot by police after he allegedly threatened to kill them with a machete. On Friday, Stockholm's police force was reinforced by specially trained officers, from different cities that have experience with riots and that have handled them before. In the town of Orebro, around 25 masked youths set fire to three cars, a school and an empty building. Reports of arson were also reported in Linkoping, south of Orebro. 

Opinion: I think it is okay to protest, as long as it is peaceful. But rioting and destroying property of others is not right. Rioting in such a way is not necessary, especially when what they are fighting for is unsure. It is only a matter of time, when things get out of hand and somebody gets hurt. It then becomes a problem. Police should continue to work to stop the riot for spreading further. It seems as though people are just using this riot as an excuse to destroy things.