Riots break out in Norway over far-right Islamophobic rally

Riots broke out in southern Norway after an anti-Muslim rally on Saturday afternoon, with police using tear gas as people threw stones and other objects across barricades.

Several hundred people attended the Islamophobic event in the town of Sandefjord, Norwegian broadcaster NRK reported, citing the police.

The rally was planned by an alliance called Stop the Islamisation of Norway. The organizers also planned to burn a copy of the Koran, the report said.

The situation was tense, with people throwing stones, shoes and eggs across barricades while police used tear gas to contain the protesters, according to an NRK photographer who attended the rally.

People also gathered to attend counter-demonstrations.

Sweden saw similar scenes of violence last weekend, when far-right extremists burned the Koran, leading to rioting in several cities.