Plot to kill Danish cartoon artist unveiled

A DANISH citizen of Moroccan descent and two Tunisians were arrested in Denmark yesterday over a plot to murder one of 12 cartoonists whose drawings of the Prophet Mohammad caused worldwide uproar in 2006.

The Security and Intelligence Service (PET) said the early morning arrests near Aarhus in western Denmark were made after lengthy surveillance to prevent a “terror-related killing” that was in an early stage of planning.

PET said it expected the 40-year-old Danish citizen to be released pending further investigation. The Tunisians will remain detained while deportation proceedings are brought against them.

According to Jyllands-Posten, the newspaper which published the cartoons in September 2005, the suspects are accused of planning to kill Kurt Westergaard, 73.

He drew the cartoon that caused the most controversy, depicting the founder of Islam with a bomb in his turban. The paper reproduced that drawing on its website yesterday.

Mr Westergaard, who has been under PET protection for several months, told Danish state TV he was sure the PET’s interference had saved his life. But he said even with hindsight he would still have made the drawing.

The cartoons gained little initial attention but were later reprinted outside Denmark, provoking outrage among Muslims, most of whom deem any depiction of the Prophet as offensive.

Three Danish embassies were attacked and at least 50 people were killed in rioting in the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Several Muslims have been convicted of planning bomb attacks, partly in protest at the cartoons.