Swedish authorities are investigating the apparent slaying of an Iraqi anti-Islam activist known for burning the Quran and said the killing could have connections to another country.

Sweden’s prime minister, Ulf Kristersson, on Thursday stressed the seriousness of the situation, stating that his nation will use all available resources to probe the killing of Salwan Momika. 

“I can assure you that the security services are deeply involved because there is obviously a risk that there is a connection to a foreign power,” Mr. Kristersson said at a press conference.

Vice Prime Minister Ebba Busch echoed his comments.

“It is a threat to our free democracy,” she wrote on X. “It must be met with the full force of our society.”

Momika was expected to appear Thursday before the Stockholm District Court, which would rule on whether he and co-defendant Salwan Najem were guilty of agitation against an ethnic or national group.

But on Wednesday, Swedish police responded to a shooting at an apartment building in the Stockholm County city of Sodertalje where Momika lived. Upon arriving, police found Momika dead from apparent gunshot wounds. He was 38.

Swedish authorities say five people have been arrested in connection to the killing. Video of the police response suggests that the killing may have been livestreamed, with police picking up a phone on the scene and ending a TikTok video.

The Stockholm District Court dismissed the charges against Momika after his death, postponing the hearing on Mr. Najem’s case until next week. 

Momika became a big name in Sweden and in his home country of Iraq after publicly burning the Quran several times in 2023. His videos sparked outrage in Iraq, leading to protesters storming the Swedish Embassy twice that summer.

• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.