Arrests in Sweden over 'planned attacks on refugees'

The suspects were detained in Nynashamn a town around 50 kilometers (31 miles) south of Stockholm on charges of preparing and inciting assaults and arson the Aftonbladet newspaper said.

Police did not confirm that refugees were the planned targets but the arrests came two weeks after a mob of masked men attacked people who did not appear to be ethnic Swedes at the main train station in Stockholm.

Sweden which has a reputation for liberal politics has swung to the right in recent months with the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats now the country’s most popular party according to recent opinion polls.

The Nordic nation has taken in the most refugees per capita in Europe and after Germany saw the highest number of asylum applications last year.