STOCKHOLM: Several days of unrest in Sweden, sparked by a far-right group’s plans to burn holy Qurans, have injured several dozen people, police said on Monday, calling for more resources to deal with the violence.

Protests have turned violent in several cities since Thursday, leaving 26 police officers and 14 civilians injured, police said at a press conference on Monday.

The unrest has been sparked by the leader of the anti-immigration and anti-Islam group Hard Line, the Danish-Swedish politician Rasmus Paludan who is aiming to drum up support ahead of September elections.

Paludan — who intends to stand in the September poll but does not yet have the necessary signatures to secure his candidacy — has gone on a declared “tour” of Sweden, visiting cities and towns with large Muslim populations with the intent of burning copies of the holy book Quran as the faithful mark the holy month of Ramadan.