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FCO issues warning over Stockholm riots

British travellers to Stockholm have been warned to avoid large gatherings, take care and monitor local news reports in the wake of rioting in parts of the city.

The updated advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office follows riots in the suburbs of the Swedish capital every night since Sunday.

Suburbs affected so far are Husby, Hagsätra, Rågsved, Skogås, the FCO said.

“If you need to contact the emergency services in Sweden call 112,” it added.

The unrest has spread during the week, with a restaurant and up to 40 cars burnt, police told the BBC.

Three police officers were hurt as rioters threw stones and directed laser pointers at emergency services.

The trouble began on Sunday in the deprived, largely immigrant suburb of Husby, to the north-west of the city.

Days earlier the police had shot dead an elderly man who had allegedly threatened to kill them with a machete, according to reports.

The worst of the latest rioting has been in the south of the city.

But 10 attacks on cars were reported in the north-western suburbs on Wednesday night while between 20 and 30 were burnt in southern parts of Stockholm.

Prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt has said everybody must take responsibility for restoring calm in Stockholm.

“It’s important to remember that burning your neighbour’s car is not an example of freedom of speech, it’s hooliganism,” he said on Wednesday.

More than 591,000 Britons visited Sweden last year. Most visits are trouble-free, the FCO said.

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