The Swedish prime minister said the shooting of an anti-Islam campaigner just hours before a trial verdict was due on Thursday over his burning the Koran might be linked to a foreign power, and police arrested five people over the killing.

Sweden’s prime minister said the shooting dead of the anti-Islam campaigner who burnt copies of the Koran and almost derailed the country’s Nato bid could be linked to a “foreign power” and was being investigated by intelligence services.

An anti-Islam refugee who became infamous for publicly burning the Koran in Sweden has been shot dead hours before a court verdict on his controversial stunts.