Riots after man, 69, shot dead by police

Gangs of youths angered by the fatal shooting of an elderly man by police in a predominantly immigrant neighbourhood threw rocks at officers and set cars and buildings on fire in a Stockholm suburb yesterday.

Some 50 youths were involved in the riots in the suburb of Husby, police spokesman Lars Bystrom said. They torched a car park, forcing police to evacuate residents from an adjacent apartment blocks, he said.

About 80 per cent of the 11,000 people in Husby are first or second generation immigrants.

Mr Bystrom said police responded to calls of burning cars and were met by masked youths hurling rocks at them. One policeman was attacked by youths kicking him and two others were injured by rocks. Many windows were smashed at two schools and local businesses.

Police say the 69-year-old dead man was “European” but did not specify his nationality.

Residents said they had gathered to protest over last Monday’s shooting and that police had responded by sending in teams that cordoned off the area.

Police say they shot the man in self-defence after he attacked them with a knife when they broke down the door to an apartment.