Hundreds of angry protesters set fire to the Swedish embassy in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq.
According to Reuters news agency, a protest was held in front of the Swedish embassy in Iraq against another expected incident of the burning of the Holy Quran.
During Thursday's early morning protests, hundreds of angry people burst into the Swedish embassy and set the building on fire.
Immediately after the incident, the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement condemning the attack in the strongest possible terms.
"We condemn all kinds of attacks on diplomats and employees of international organizations," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement in Stockholm.
The Swedish embassy in Baghdad declined to immediately respond to questions about the matter. The protest was announced by Shia religious leader Muqtada al-Sadr on Thursday.
According to announcements on the social networking site Telegram and in pro-Muqtada al-Sadr media, supporters of Muqtada al-Sadr turned to the Swedish embassy in Baghdad to protest.
Earlier, there were reports in the media that police in Stockholm authorized another Quran burning demonstration in front of the Iraqi embassy.
Several videos of the attack on the Swedish embassy are shared in a group called "One Baghdad" on Telegram.
Video shows a crowd gathering outside the Swedish embassy in Baghdad around 1am last night.
An hour later, demonstrators attacked the embassy and chanted slogans in support of Muqtada al-Sadr. Videos show dozens of people climbing the wall of the embassy premises.
An attempt was then made to break open the front door. In another video, a place is set on fire.
Other footage shows dozens of protesters standing shirtless in an embassy room in the heat while alarm bells sounded in the background.
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| Sweden condemned the attack on its embassy in Baghdad. |
Some other videos show protesters performing Fajr prayers in front of the embassy after the incident.
The Iraqi Foreign Ministry released a statement condemning the attack.
The Foreign Ministry said that the Iraqi government has instructed the relevant security agencies to immediately carry out the necessary security measures and investigations to determine the background.
Iraqi police and state media did not immediately confirm the attack and burning of the Swedish embassy.
It should be noted that a man, under police protection, wanted to burn copies of the Quran and the Torah, the Jewish holy book, outside the Israeli embassy in Stockholm.
However, the man reportedly abandoned his plan over fears that it would cause a major outrage.
In Sweden, the right to hold public demonstrations is protected by the constitution.
