Up to 80 cars have been set alight in Sweden in what is thought to be a co-ordinated attack organised on social media.

Masked vandals torched the vehicles weeks before the country's forthcoming general election.

Most were burned in about 20 locations in Sweden's second city of Gothenburg.

Rocks were also thrown at police in Trollhattan, northeast of Gothenburg, and there were incidents in Malmo too.

Image: Up to 80 cars were set alight

Police spokesman Hans Lippens said a "connection between the blazes" could not be excluded.


Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said he was "furious", adding that the incident "looked very co-ordinated, almost like a military operation".

The perpetrators were "ruining things for yourselves, your parents and your neighbourhoods", he added.

Addressing those responsible directly, he asked: "What the hell are you doing?"

No injuries have been reported.

Image: Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said he was 'furious'

While setting cars alight is common in Sweden - mainly blamed on disadvantaged youths - Mr Lippens said officers had "never seen this many cars set on fire before".

Police said several suspects had been identified, and it appeared the attack was organised on social media.

"Sweden has tolerated this for too long. This must end now," Ulf Kristersson, leader of the Moderates opposition party, wrote on Facebook.