Riots in Stockholm continue

STOCKHOLM - Riots in suburbs of Swedish capital Stockholm continued and had spread around the city, local media reported on Thursday.

After first starting on last Sunday night in Husby, northwest to the Stockholm city, the riots now had spread to more suburbs, mainly in the areas near Husby and over the places to the south of the city, said the Swedish daily SVD.

Firefighters extinguish a burning car, following riots in the Stockholm suburb of Kista late May 21, 2013, in this picture provided by Scanpix. [Photo/Agencies]

At the moment the riots were still continuing as in Rinkeby, where 300 to 500 people were gathered around cars that had been set on fire.

By now there had been 16 people between 14 and 21 years old arrested, of whom half had criminal records.

"We have groups of young people who believe that they can change the society with violence. We cannot let violence hold sway," said the Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, adding that the most important thing at present was to control the situation.

"There is a risk that it would continue. Now everyone must help to get back the peace," he added.

The riots started days after the local police had shot dead a 69-year old man in Husby who threatened to kill them with a machete.

The areas where riots are going on mostly have residents with an immigrant background and lower education while the unemployment rate of the areas is also much higher than the average in Sweden.