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Horrific

Salwan Momika, Christian Iraqi who burnt the Koran, shot dead in live stream

Live on TikTok: Iraqi refugee Salwan Momika, who sparked global outrage for burning Korans, gunned down in Swedish apartment hours before hate speech verdict; Five arrested in connection with his murder.

Salwan Momika
Salwan Momika
Frankie Fouganthin, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Salwan Momika
Salwan Momika
Photo: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Salwan_Momika_in_2023.jpg">Frankie Fouganthin</a>, <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0">CC BY-SA 4.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons

STOCKHOLM -- Viewers of a TikTok livestream witnessed the brutal assassination of controversial activist Salwan Momika on Wednesday night, as gunmen stormed his apartment in Sodertalje, Sweden, and shot him dead on camera. The 38-year-old Iraqi Christian refugee was broadcasting live when the attackers struck, in what appears to be a carefully planned hit.

Swedish police rushed to the scene after receiving reports of gunfire during the livestream but found Momika already suffering from gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital. Five suspects have been arrested in connection with the execution-style killing, according to prosecutor Rasmus Ohman.

Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders, known for his own controversial stance on Islam, immediately condemned the killing on social media: "It makes me feel sick. I hope the perpetrators of this vicious act will go to jail for life. Terrible news. May he rest in peace."

The shocking murder, captured in real-time on social media, came just hours before Momika was due to face a court ruling on charges of inciting ethnic hatred. These charges stemmed from his controversial public burning of the Koran in 2023, actions that sparked international outrage and violent protests across multiple countries.

Momika's co-protester, Salwan Najem, responded to news of the killing with an ominous tweet: "I'm next."

The livestreamed assassination marks a disturbing escalation in a controversy that began when Momika burned and stomped on the Islamic holy book outside Stockholm's main mosque during Eid al-Adha. That demonstration triggered diplomatic crises, with several Muslim nations condemning Sweden and protesters storming the Swedish embassy in Baghdad.

Police spokesperson Nadya Norton confirmed that investigators are examining footage from the fatal TikTok stream. The brutality of the killing - carried out live on social media - has sent shockwaves through Sweden, a country already grappling with rising tensions over religious and cultural conflicts.

Swedish intelligence service Sapo had previously raised the country's threat level to four out of five following Momika's Koran burnings, warning that Sweden had become a "prioritized target." Despite receiving numerous death threats, Momika had continued his provocative demonstrations, arguing they were protected under Swedish free speech laws.

As investigators work to uncover the full circumstances of the livestreamed execution, questions are being raised about how the attackers knew Momika's location and the timing of his broadcast. The Stockholm court has postponed its ruling on the ethnic hatred charges until February 3, citing the need for additional time following Momika's death.

The Daily Mail contributed to this article.

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