Carolina Jemsby and David Bartal, Special for USA TODAY

STORY HIGHLIGHTS
Stockholm is one of the world’s richest cities, but it is also very segregated
15% of residents in the country are foreign-born
Unemployment is at 7% for the general population; 16% among residents of foreign origin

STOCKHOLM — Suburbs of the Swedish capital were engulfed in a fourth night of rioting early Thursday in the country’s worst civil unrest in years, leaving locals shaking their heads and wondering when calm would return to their usually tranquil city.

Since Sunday, hundreds of young residents of the suburbs of Husby, Jakobsberg, Hagsatra, Skarholmenset and others set dozens of cars on fire, damaged buildings — including schools and a police station — and battled with police. There were about 10 arrests, and one police officer was reported injured.

Police spokesman Kjell Lindgren says at least 30 cars were set ablaze across western and southern Stockholm early Thursday. Firefighters said they have “never before seen so many fires raging at the same time.”

Fire also destroyed a restaurant in Skogas, south of Stockholm.

Government officials have called for calm while the rioters say they won’t stop until there is a full investigation into the shooting death of a 69-year-old mentally ill Husby man last week who, police say, was swinging a machete as police attempted a house search.

“Everyone must work to restore calm,” said Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt.

On Wednesday night and into Thursday, hundreds of residents walked the streets to answer the appeal for calm.

The unrest in poor, immigrant suburbs is only the latest to break out in Europe over the past decade following riots in Paris in 2005 and in London in 2011. But it has shocked both locals and those outside the rich northern country famous for its tolerance and generous welfare system known as the ‘Swedish model,’ a country also synonymous for its commitment to societal equality and justice.

Now, locals are wondering if Sweden has done any better than its European neighbors in assimilating its immigrant population, especially as administrations in the past two decades have been slowly dismantling the cradle-to-grave welfare benefits. That has led to rising income inequality that has hit the young and immigrants the hardest with unemployment running at 7% for the general population, and 16% among residents of foreign origin.

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