Protesters in Iraq storm Swedish Embassy in Baghdad over Koran burning

Iraqi protesters stormed Swedish Embassy in Baghdad, angered by burning of Koran. Videos show demonstrators waving flags and signs of Muqtada al-Sadr. Fire set, alarm audible in background. Iraq's Foreign Ministry condemned attack, instructed security authorities to investigate. Protest began after man planned to burn Koran and Torah outside Israeli Embassy in Stockholm. Blasphemy laws abandoned in 1970s. Similar protest outside Turkey's Embassy earlier this year. Thousands of demonstrators on streets in June. Protesters called on Iraqi officials to expel Sweden's ambassador.

Protesters angered by the burning of a copy of the Koran stormed the Swedish Embassy in Baghdad early Thursday, July 20, 2023, breaking into the compound and lighting a small fire.

Online videos showed demonstrators at the diplomatic post waving flags and signs showing the influential Iraqi Shia cleric and political leader Muqtada al-Sadr. It wasn't clear if there were any staff inside the complex at the time.

The Swedish Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The videos showed dozens of men climbing over the fence at the complex, with the sound of them trying to break down a front door. Another showed what appeared to be a small fire being set. Other footage showed men, some shirtless in the summer heat, inside what appeared to be a room at the embassy, an alarm audible in the background.

Others later performed predawn prayers outside of the embassy.

Iraq's Foreign Ministry issued a statement condemning the attack.

"The Iraqi government has instructed the competent security authorities to conduct an urgent investigation and take the necessary security measures in order to uncover the circumstances of the incident and identify the perpetrators of this act and hold them accountable according to the law," the Foreign Ministry said.