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An explosion has gone off at a Swedish apartment, sparking a police investigation.

The blast occurred at a flat in central Malmo at around 10pm local time, it is reported.

The impact smashed several windows, although it is unclear whether anyone was injured.

Emergency crews are currently at the scene, while residents have been ordered to stay indoors.

A bomb squad is on its way to the site, according to Sweden's largest daily newspaper, the Expressen.

A police spokeswoman said several roads have been cordoned off in the wake of the explosion.

She added that the cause of the blast remains unclear.

It comes two days after an unidentified assailant shot and wounded a man in a shopping mall in the same city.

A Malmo police statement said the victim was shot in the leg and taken to a local hospital.

His condition remains unknown.

Police said they had not identified a suspect or motive in the shooting and had made no arrests.

A police spokesperson later told Sydsvenska Dagbladet that the incident, which took place in a mainly immigrant neighbourhood of Sweden's third largest city, was being investigated as a case of aggravated assault or attempted murder.

They said the attack had nothing to do with recent Islamist militant violence elsewhere in Europe.

(Image: Google)

Europe has been shaken by a series of violent attacks on civilians in Germany, France and Belgium over the past 18 months by men of Middle Eastern or Asian origin.

Many of the attacks were claimed by the Islamic State.

This story is developing.