The violence began as a protest against the burning of the Quran in the United States, overseen by an American pastor,[2] Terry Jones, on 20 March 2011.
"[10] During the sermon, which is part of the Friday prayer, worshipers were told by three mullahs to begin protesting in favor of the arrest of Pastor Terry Jones, who led the Qur'an burning.
[11] Atta Muhammad Nur, the provincial governor of Balkh, said that some Taliban insurgents were among the protesters who used the event as an opportunity.
The mob burned down a part of the United Nations compound, toppled guard towers and heaved blocks of cement down from the walls.
[11] Afghan National Security Forces turned down an offer of assistance from PRT Mazar-i-Sharif during the protests, according to Krister Bringéus at Sweden's Embassy in Kabul.
"[2] On 4 September 2012, a Norwegian journalist claimed to have discovered secret Swedish documents which proved that the masses were guided by Afghan agents, hired by the U.S. military, to turn in the direction of the UN headquarters to avert an attack on the American consulate.
Norwegian State Secretary Gry Larsen said there were no grounds in the report to say that the Americans intentionally asked the demonstrators to go to the UN offices.