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Donald Trump backtracked last night after he appeared to blast a terror attack in Sweden that never happened - insisting he got it from Fox News.

The President told a bizarre campaign rally on Saturday, just four weeks into his presidency: "You look at what's happening last night in Sweden.

"Sweden. Who would believe this? Sweden. They took in large numbers. They're having problems like they never thought possible."

But no terror attack happened in Sweden on Friday night.

In fact, the only recent terror incident in Sweden led to the January arrest of three men who targeted a Gothernberg Asylum centre for a homemade bomb attack which seriously injured one man.

The three men were part of the neo-Nazi Nordic Resistance Movement, which openly promotes racist, anti-immigration and anti-Semitic views.

The billionaire's baffling comments spawned the spoof hashtags #JeSuisIKEA and #IStandWithSweden while users checked on the safety of ABBA.

(Image: REUTERS)

Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt fumed: “Sweden? Terror attack? What has he been smoking?”

Last night, Trump claimed his comments referred to a feature broadcast on Fox News on Friday night about Sweden, claiming the Swedish government was trying to cover up an increase in crimes, including rape, brought on by the country’s policy of welcoming refugees.

This is untrue.

There is no evidence of an increase in crime in Sweden after the refugee crisis.

The most recent Swedish crime survey found crime rates have changed little over the last 10 years.

While there were 13% more reported rapes in 2016 than 2015, the total was still lower than 2014.

In 2005, Sweden introduced a much more expansive definition of rape compared other western nations.

Many crimes recorded as rape in Swedish law would be recorded as other crimes elsewhere.

(Image: AFP)

Donald Trump has been criticised for apparently making public statements based on TV news reports - particularly from right-leaning Fox News - rather than official briefings.

Many of his early morning Tweets correspond to items reported on morning TV news broadcasts, with the President often repeating claimed statistics parrot fashion.