An Iraqi refugee in Sweden who repeatedly burned the Koran in 2023, sparking outrage in Muslim countries, has been shot dead south of Stockholm, investigators said Thursday, with Sweden's prime minister suggesting "a foreign power" might have been involved.

Prosecutor Rasmus Oman confirmed to AFP that an investigation had been opened into the murder of 38-year-old Salwan Momika and that five people had been arrested.

"We're in the very early stages... there's a lot of information gathering. Five people have been detained suspected of involvement in the crime," Oman said.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson told reporters at a press conference: "I can guarantee that the security services are deeply involved in this because there is obviously a risk that there is also a link to foreign power."

A Stockholm court had been due to rule Thursday whether Momika, a Christian Iraqi, was guilty of inciting ethnic hatred but said it had postponed its ruling until February 3 as a result of his death.

Police responded late Wednesday to a call about a shooting in an........

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