AN unidentified assailant shot and wounded a man in a shopping centre in the Swedish city of Malmo on Tuesday, police said.

A Malmo police statement said the victim was shot in the leg and taken to a local hospital. His condition was not immediately known. Police said they had not identified a suspect or motive in the shooting and had made no arrests.

The incident occurred in a mainly immigrant neighbourhood of Sweden's third largest city.

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 militant group.

Reuters