“Mohammed” Cartoonist’s Assassin Shot by Police

The cartoonist whose satirical drawing of Mohammed caused him to be vilified by Muslims the world over has been the subject of an Islamically inspired assassination attempt; he escaped death, though his assailant was shot several times by police.

Kurt Westergaard’s depiction of Mohammed, published in a Danish newspaper in 2005, infuriated Muslims the world over, with many demanding that Denmark censor the cartoons.

Dozens were killed in violent protests against the “blasphemous” caricatures, and Danish embassies throughout the Islamic world were attacked.

The religion of peace soon inspired numerous fatwa against Westergaard, and a million dollar bounty was placed on his head.

Westergaard was driven into hiding but defiantly emerged years later, albeit under heavy police protection.

However, this proved useless as a 28-year-old Somali Islamist was able to break into his home with a knife, vowing to kill him.

Westergaard fled to a panic room with his infant granddaughter and summoned his police guardians, who apprehended the assassin; he resisted arrest and was shot in the knee and shoulder by police. His injuries are not said to be life-threatening.

Police previously arrested three Muslim immigrants for plotting to kill Westergaard, but this is the first time he has been bodily attacked.

Danish intelligence reports the assassin was known to be a member of a violent Islamist group thought to have ties to al-Qaeda, and was already under surveillance for his other activities; doubtless they will have some interesting questions to answer regarding how he was able to attempt his crime despite this.

Via the BBC.