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An Iraqi refugee who staged Quran-burning protests in Sweden was shot dead late Wednesday near Stockholm, just hours before a court was to issue a verdict in his trial of incitement, the Washington Post reported.

Salwan Momika, 38, came to Sweden in 2018 and gained international notoriety in 2023 after he burned a copy of the Quran outside a mosque during the Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha. His actions sparked global condemnation, diplomatic tensions, and security threats against Sweden.

They also ignited fury in the Muslim world, leading to violent protests, attacks on Swedish diplomatic missions in Iraq, and threats from extremist groups.

Momika was standing trial on charges of “agitation against an ethnic or national group” for a number of Quran-burning demonstrations.

After his death, the Stockholm court dismissed the case against him Thursday but postponed the verdict for his co-defendant until Monday. The second defendant later posted on X, “I’m next.”

Government officials condemned the murder, calling it a direct “threat to our free democracy” and warned of possible repercussions.

Swedish authorities have so far arrested five people in connection with the killing but did not confirm whether the shooter was among them.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Sweden’s security services were investigating the possibility of foreign involvement, saying “There is obviously a risk that there is a connection to a foreign power,” according to the Guardian.

Security officials have previously accused Iran of using criminal networks within the country to carry out acts of violence against individuals and groups.

The killing has reignited debates over Sweden’s handling of Quran burnings, which were initially protected under free speech laws but created diplomatic issues, including delaying the country’s membership of NATO.