Prophet Muhammad Cartoonist Lars Vilks Targeted In Deadly Copenhagen Shooting

Prophet Muhammad Cartoonist

Denmark is recovering from a terrorist attack that left one person dead and three injured after a free speech debate attended by the controversial  Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks was interupted. The French ambassador, Francois Zimeray, was also present during the attack. Semi automatic shots were fired through plate glass windows during the seminar.  Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt described it as a “politically motivated” act of terrorism.

Police have released photos of a lone gunman, wearing a purple balaclava and thick puffer jacket. The three injured in the attack were police officers. An audio recording, obtained exclusively by the BBC, revealed the moments leading up to the attack. One of the speakers at the debate, which took place at a cafe told that the conference was suddenly interrupted by a barrage of gunshots.

In 2007 Lars Vilks released drawings of the Prophet Muhammad dressed as a dog. In 2010 an attempt was made to burn down the cartoonist’s house in southern Sweden and two brothers were imprisoned for attempted arson. Born June 1946 in Helsingborg, Sweden Lars Vilks has had a controversial career. A number of Swedish papers published his cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad . In Sept 2007: $100,000 bounty placed on his head by then leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq. He stated that ;”I’m not shaken at all by this incident,”. “Not the least.’’

In March 2010: Seven Irish citizens were arrested over separate plots to kill Vilks: US woman Colleen LaRose, aka Jihad Jane, also arrested and later jailed for 10 years for conspiracy to commit murder.

May 2010: Assaulted by Muslim protesters during a lecture about free speech at Uppsala University, Sweden

Sept 2011: Three men arrested in Gothenburg, Sweden, for plotting to kill Vilks

March 2013: Placed on “most wanted” list By al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula

Feb 2015: Gunmen attack event on blasphemy, art and freedom of expression organised by Vilks at the Krudttoenden café in Copenhagen, Denmark

March 2010: Seven Irish citizens arrested over separate plots to kill Vilks: US woman Colleen LaRose, aka Jihad Jane, also arrested and later jailed for 10 years for conspiracy to commit murder

May 2010: Assaulted by Muslim protesters during a lecture about free speech at Uppsala University, Sweden

Sept 2011: Three men arrested in Gothenburg, Sweden, for plotting to kill Vilks

March 2013: Placed on “most wanted” list By al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula

January 2015: Gunmen attack the offices of Charlie Hebdo Magazine in Paris, where 17 people are killed.

Feb 2015: Gunmen attack event on blasphemy, art and freedom of expression organised by Vilks at the Krudttoenden café in Copenhagen, Denmark

Update: The gunman also attacked a synagogue last night killing a security guard. He was shot dead outside his home which was under police surveillance.

Satirists of Islam have been in the news since the January attacks at the offices of Charlie Hebdo in France. Cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad were published by a Danish newspaper in 2005, sparking deadly riots in some Muslim countries.

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