Sweden: Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson declared on Thursday that the burning of the Quran by anti-Islam activists was a destructive act that jeopardised Sweden's security.

Kristersson pleaded with the public in a Facebook post, describing the situation as "very serious."

He wrote, "Sweden is now at greater risk as a result of the most recent destructive events, particularly the various demonstrative burning incidents.

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The prime minister claimed that based on a Swedish police assessment, "we have gone from being what is called a legitimate target for terrorist attack to a priority target."

He cautioned that Sweden was also in danger of becoming "a pawn in the games played by outside powers."

Sweden's Psychological Defence Agency's head of communication, Mikael Ostlund, charged Russia on Wednesday with using the Quran-burning incidents as part of a "disinformation campaign... to split us in the West and also to create an increased anxiety and polarisation here in Sweden." He asserted that Moscow wanted to "make it harder for Sweden to join NATO."

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With prior approval from the police, protesters have recently staged two stunts outside the Iraqi embassy in Stockholm during which the Quran was destroyed.

In June, angry Iraqis invaded and set fire to the Swedish embassy in Baghdad. Shortly after, the Swedish ambassador was expelled from Iraq, and the Iraqi government called their envoy back to Stockholm.

Other Muslim nations have expressed outrage over the burning incidents, including Turkey, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan.

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In a different interview with the TT news agency on Thursday, Kristersson confirmed that the Swedish police had received a number of additional requests to allow the burning of religious texts in the coming week, but he omitted specifically mentioning the Quran.

A Muslim protester was given permission earlier this month to burn the Torah and the Bible in front of the Israeli embassy in Stockholm. The activist, however, changed his mind at the last minute and held a demonstration in opposition to the savaging of holy texts of any faith.

"I don't make those decisions about granting permits; the police do. Ulf Kristersson, the prime minister, noted that if they are approved, "we face a number of days with the obvious risk of serious things happening." He added that he was "extremely concerned.