Man who attacked cartoonist previously arrested in Kenya

The man who attacked a cartoonist who depicted the Prophet Muhammad in a cartoon has previously been arrested in Kenya, according to Danish media.

The Politiken newspaper reported today that Danish intelligence knew the 28-year-old Somali man was held in Kenya in September for allegedly plotting an attack against US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

Citing unnamed sources, the newspaper said he was later released due to lack of evidence.

But Denmark’s ambassador to Kenya, Bo Jensen, told the news agency Ritzau the man was arrested in Kenya for incomplete travel documents. He said Kenyan authorities never told the embassy he was suspected in any terror plot.

Denmark’s PET intelligence agency would not comment.

The armed suspect was charged with attempted murder on Saturday after breaking into artist Kurt Westergaard’s home.