Danes nab suspects in cartoonist plot

[Snoshi]

COPENHAGEN, Denmark - Danish police said Tuesday they have arrested several people suspected of plotting to kill one of the 12 cartoonists behind the Prophet Muhammad drawings that sparked an uproar in the Muslim world two years ago.

The arrests were made in pre-dawn raids in Aarhus, western Denmark, "to prevent a terror-related murder," the police intelligence agency said. It did not say how many people were arrested nor did it mention which cartoonist was targeted.

However, according to Jyllands-Posten, the Danish newspaper that first published the drawings on Sept. 30, 2005, the suspects were planning to kill its cartoonist Kurt Westergaard.

"There were very concrete murder plans against Kurt Westergaard," said Carsten Juste, the paper's editor-in-chief.

The cartoons were later reprinted by a range of Western publications, and they sparked deadly protests in parts of the Muslim world.

Islamic law generally opposes any depiction of the prophet, even favorable, for fear it could lead to idolatry.

Westergaard, 73, and his wife Gitte, 66, had been living under police protection because of the murder plans, Jyllands-Posten reported. It said those arrested included both Danish and foreign citizens.

"Of course I fear for my life when the police intelligence service say that some people have concrete plans to kill me. But I have turned fear into anger and resentment," Westergaard said in a statement published on Jyllands-Posten's Web site.

PET, the police intelligence service, called the action "preventive," saying it decided to strike "at an early phase to stop the planning and the carrying out of the murder."
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080212/ap_on_re_eu/denmark_prophet_drawings

[Invisigoth]

Throw them into jail for a decade and then deport them back to the hellhole they crept out of in the first place.

[9mmRifle]

Danish police arrested several people Tuesday suspected of plotting to kill one of the 12 cartoonists behind the Prophet Muhammad drawings that sparked an uproar in the Muslim world two years ago, authorities said.The arrests were made in pre-dawn raids in Aarhus, western Denmark, "to prevent a terror-related murder," the police intelligence agency said. It did not say how many people were arrested nor did it mention which cartoonist was targeted.

http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5g9EgYzq5IoXktPu_N6ecZhQVfF9g

Jyllands-Posten, the Danish newspaper that first published the drawings on Sept. 30, 2005, said the suspects were planning to kill its cartoonist, Kurt Westergaard, 73.
"There were very concrete murder plans against Kurt Westergaard," said Carsten Juste, the paper's editor-in-chief.
The cartoons were later reprinted by a range of Western publications, and they sparked deadly protests in parts of the Muslim world.
Islamic law generally opposes any depiction of the prophet, even favorable, for fear it could lead to idolatry.
Westergaard's cartoon, which showed Muhammad wearing a turban shaped as a bomb with a lit fuse, was one of the most controversial.
Westergaard and his 66-year-old wife Gitte had been living under police protection because of the murder plans, Jyllands-Posten reported. It said those arrested included both Danish and foreign citizens.
"Of course I fear for my life when the police intelligence service say that some people have concrete plans to kill me. But I have turned fear into anger and resentment," Westergaard said in a statement published on Jyllands-Posten's website.
PET, the police intelligence service, called the action "preventive," saying it decided to strike "at an early phase to stop the planning and the carrying out of the murder."

[Snoshi]

Repost....

[Russian_dude]

We should ALL draw Muhhamed cartoons in the West.

"I am Spartacus!"
"No, I am Spartacus!"
"I am Spartacus too!"

[mudbunny]

I thought the drawings were incredibly stupid and done to stir the sh!t in a time when we need a little more understanding of fellow religions. Did the joker that drew these pictures and the publisher of the paper honestly think that Muslims would just not say anything?

[Lazy Lob]

I thought the drawings were incredibly stupid and done to stir the sh!t in a time when we need a little more understanding of fellow religions. Did the joker that drew these pictures and the publisher of the paper honestly think that Muslims would just not say anything?

Why exactly do we “need a little more understanding of fellow religions”? Isn’t faith a personal matter? On top of that there’s nothing “fellow” about them for many atheists.

[Enduring Freedom]

Statement in connection with the counter terrorism operation in Aarhus on the 12th of February 2008http://www.pet.dk/upload/trans.gif

“The Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET) carried out a police operation in the Aarhus area early this morning at 4.30 a.m., the purpose being to prevent a terror related assassination of one of the cartoonists behind the cartoons of the Prophet Muhammed first published in the newspaper Jyllands-Posten on the 30th of September 2005. The operation took place based on surveillance carried out over a longer period of time. Not wanting to take any undue risks PET has decided to intervene at a very early stage in order to interrupt the planning and the actual assassination. Thus, this morning’s operation must first and foremost be seen as a preventive measure where the aim has been to stop a crime from being committed. In this connection it must be emphasized that it is one of PET’s primary tasks to counteract and prevent terrorist acts and other security related threats.
As part of the operation PET has arrested a 40-year-old Danish citizen of Moroccan origin.
The person arrested is charged with attempting to violate Section 114 of the Danish Criminal Code concerning terrorism. As PET has chosen to take action at an early stage to interrupt the planning and terror related assassination it is, however, the expectation that the person in question will be released following interrogation unless any other information surfaces which offers a further basis for continuing the investigation and possibly for attempting to get the person in question remanded in custody.
The Danish citizen in question will, following a possible release, continue to be the subject of PET’s interest.
As part of the operation PET has also arrested two Tunisian citizens.
According to the provisions of the Danish Aliens Act it has been decided that the two Tunisian citizens are to be deported as they are considered to constitute a threat to the security of the state.
For the time being the two Tunisian citizens have been imprisoned according to the Danish Aliens Act while they await their deportation from Denmark.
The specific case has not given rise to changing the overall threat assessment in relation to Denmark.”
Source: PET (http://www.pet.dk/Nyheder/tegn-disrup-uk.aspx)

[kamaz]

I thought the drawings were incredibly stupid and done to stir the sh!t in a time when we need a little more understanding of fellow religions. Did the joker that drew these pictures and the publisher of the paper honestly think that Muslims would just not say anything?



a man was almost killed for drawing cartoons.


Let me repeat that.


A MAN WAS ALMOST KILLED FOR DRAWING CARTOONS!

why are the faithful always so 'offended'? I'm offended at their behaviour and barbarism. What happened to free speech and free press? Are we all going to self-censor ourselves because of fear of the muslim reaction?

pathetic.

[Jaeger07]

Jeez. Sometimes i wonder how many "bad seeds" that religion have.





(before we come to terms with the fact that THIS is the way islam is)

[Clayton Gold]

I thought the drawings were incredibly stupid and done to stir the sh!t in a time when we need a little more understanding of fellow religions. Did the joker that drew these pictures and the publisher of the paper honestly think that Muslims would just not say anything?

You've got it backwards - westerners have shown nothing but tolerance and understanding.

It's about time we get it in return.

[SOG]

It concerns me that they were actually planning to do this.

On the other hand the rebel artist in me now wants to make some fun cartoons.

Decisions, decisions...

[MaDuce]

http://www.danielpipes.org/pics/large/art_3360_1.jpg

[Kragh]

The situation will probably escalate tomorrow, because 2 major news papers will make a public statement in the name of liberty of speech.
They will print the cartoon made by the cartoonist Kurt Westergaard (the man being threatened).

I expect the radical islamists will go crazy and we will see lots of violent demonstrations !!!!

[2Sheds_Jackson]

I thought the drawings were incredibly stupid and done to stir the sh!t in a time when we need a little more understanding of fellow religions. Did the joker that drew these pictures and the publisher of the paper honestly think that Muslims would just not say anything?

"say anything"? Heh heh, I don't think you have a full understanding of one of your fellow religions. p-)

[La8pv]

The three largest newspapers in Denmark are going to publish the cartoon tomorrow. (the one with the profet with a bomb in his turban)

[Kevlarhead]

The situation will probably escalate tomorrow, because 2 major news papers will make a public statement in the name of liberty of speech.
They will print the cartoon made by the cartoonist Kurt Westergaard (the man being threatened).

I expect the radical islamists will go crazy and we will see lots of violent demonstrations !!!!


I think actually a number of papers will follow up on this and do the same thing to show their support. Where were they when the islamic world went crazy the last time? - I could ask.
But better late then never I guess...

[Drunkensquid]

tomorrow Danish flags will be selling like hotcakes in the middle east.....:D

[mudbunny]

a man was almost killed for drawing cartoons.


Let me repeat that.


A MAN WAS ALMOST KILLED FOR DRAWING CARTOONS!

why are the faithful always so 'offended'? I'm offended at their behaviour and barbarism. What happened to free speech and free press? Are we all going to self-censor ourselves because of fear of the muslim reaction?

pathetic.

Yeah, I read the piece. And any plot to kill him will be be prosocuted just like any other plot to kill someone, and rightly so. Now, does anyone actually think that what this guy did was SMART? Yeah, we all know it was LEGAL, so what? Just because you CAN do something doesn't mean you SHOULD. Abortions are legal and their institutions have come under fire from radical Christians have they not? Do you walk by a house on fire and decide to throw gasoline on it? This is all based on my opinion that this publication and so-called "cartoonist" had no other motives here than to "stir the sh!t", that's all. If he would've drawn a picture of Jesus on the cross doing pullups with his hands nailed to the cross it would've been just as despicable as a depiction of Mohammed.

[mudbunny]

"say anything"? Heh heh, I don't think you have a full understanding of one of your fellow religions. p-)

Actually, a "statement" or "fatwah" was issued on the matter, so my understanding is fairly clear, thx.

[Clayton Gold]

... If he would've drawn a picture of Jesus on the cross doing pullups with his hands nailed to the cross it would've been just as despicable as a depiction of Mohammed.


You can defend the actions of radical islam all you want, but the difference is, there wouldn't be any violence in this case.

[Afro-European]

Huh!!! Are you kidding? I had the opportunity to watch some Iranian tv channels.How they depict ,portray Jesus is 1000 worse than this cartoon yet you don't see Christians running wild,issueing fatwa,burning sh!t down etc.
There is something(fill in the blank) about islam in my humble opinion.No pun intended.



Yeah, I read the piece. And any plot to kill him will be be prosocuted just like any other plot to kill someone, and rightly so. Now, does anyone actually think that what this guy did was SMART? Yeah, we all know it was LEGAL, so what? Just because you CAN do something doesn't mean you SHOULD. Abortions are legal and their institutions have come under fire from radical Christians have they not? Do you walk by a house on fire and decide to throw gasoline on it? This is all based on my opinion that this publication and so-called "cartoonist" had no other motives here than to "stir the sh!t", that's all. If he would've drawn a picture of Jesus on the cross doing pullups with his hands nailed to the cross it would've been just as despicable as a depiction of Mohammed.

[NavyTimes]

Uhm, isn't Jesus considered an important prophet in Islam? What are these depictions you mention?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islamic_view_of_Jesus

Only one newspaper here printed the cartoon today, but more may follow in the days to come.

[Ulytau]

Before said..Especially in Afghanistan radicals used this..

After this neo-nazis gonna use it,i can imagine where we going..First not been surprise but nobody can support who tryin to kill drawer sad thing a lil sorry was gonna solve every problem but easy to see..Not sure what this drawer thinkin right now..

About big newspapers i heard about 2-3 countries gonna publish this cartoon again..

@NavyTimes every prophets are important :)

[Kevlarhead]

Yeah, I read the piece. And any plot to kill him will be be prosocuted just like any other plot to kill someone, and rightly so. Now, does anyone actually think that what this guy did was SMART? Yeah, we all know it was LEGAL, so what? Just because you CAN do something doesn't mean you SHOULD. Abortions are legal and their institutions have come under fire from radical Christians have they not? Do you walk by a house on fire and decide to throw gasoline on it? This is all based on my opinion that this publication and so-called "cartoonist" had no other motives here than to "stir the sh!t", that's all. If he would've drawn a picture of Jesus on the cross doing pullups with his hands nailed to the cross it would've been just as despicable as a depiction of Mohammed.

This whole thing has nothing to do with "just because you can" in the first place. Actually its closer to be the other way around. If you knew the background why these cartoons were drawn and posted, you would probably have a different oppinion on this matter.