Denmark's prime minister denounced a far-right activist after his attempt to demonstrate in a Copenhagen district with a high-immigrant population led to rioting and 23 arrests.
Lars Lokke Rasmussen condemned what he called the "meaningless provocations" of Rasmus Paludan, whose only purpose was to sow discord.
"Meet him with arguments - not with violence," Rasmussen wrote on Twitter, late Sunday.
Paludan has already received a suspended sentence for racist abuse.
Copenhagen police said Monday they had made 23 arrests after Paludan tried to demonstrate with some of his supporters Sunday afternoon in the mainly immigrant Norrebro district near the city centre.
Counter protestors threw cobblestones at him and at the police who moved in first to protect him and then to escort him away.
The unrest spread to other parts of the city, where dustbins and bicycles were set on fire and police responded with tear gas after missiles were thrown at them.
Paludan is the leader of the far-right Stram Kurs (Hard Line) party, which wants Muslims to leave Denmark.
