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SWEDEN RIOTS: Masked gangs set FIRE to 80 vehicles in shock violence weeks before election

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SWEDEN was engulfed in violence last night as dozens of cars were set alight and stones were thrown at police by gangs of masked youths rampaged across the country.

Fires were reported in Malmö, Gothenburg and Helsingborg and shocking footage showed youths destroying vehicles in a shopping centre and hospital car park in Frölunda Torg in the west of the country.

Police are investigating whether the fires which broke out across the country are related.

Sweden police said: “While most fires were started within a short period of time, it can not be excluded that there is a connection between the fires, the case will be investigated.”

The fires sparked outrage with Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven saying: “I get pissed off for real.”

sweden elections riots violence Sweden gangs gothenburg malmo helsingborg

At least 80 vehicles were torched in the riots (Image: TWITTER/JJOHANJJANSSON)

Adding that he wanted to ask the rioters, “what the hell are you doing”?

The largest group of youths gathered in Trollhättan, north of Gothenburg.

It is reported that as many as 40 people threw stones and started fires.

Footage also shows vehicles covered in flames in a car park at Frölunda Torg, which includes a specialist hospital as well as a shopping centre.

sweden elections riots violence Sweden gangs gothenburg malmo helsingborg

The PM said he was ‘p****d off’ by the rioting (Image: GETTY)

There were also cars set on fire in Hjällbo, the northeast of Gothenburg, in Malmo and Helsingborg.

Swedish police said emergency services were tackling the outbreak of violence but no injuries have been reported.

National Swedish radio has claimed around 40 firefighters were in action tackling the different blazes.

All fires were extinguished by midnight and police said the identification process is ongoing.

sweden elections riots violence Sweden gangs gothenburg malmo helsingborg

ll fires were extinguished by midnight and police said the identification process is ongoing (Image: TWITTER/JJOHANJJANSSON)

 

It is not clear at this time whether any arrests have been made.

Around 80 vehicles are left vandalised, with three caravans and a truck also targeted.

People took to social media to express their anger at the violence.

One user said: “Isn’t it the government’s duty to keep society free from things like this?”

The violence comes just three weeks before a general election.

It is expected eurosceptic and right-wing parties could make significant gains in the polls.