Swedish 'Mohammad' cartoonist Lars Vilks killed in car crash

Swedish 'Mohammad' cartoonist Lars Vilks killed in car crash

Swedish artist Lars Vilks, who stirred worldwide controversy in 2007 with drawings depicting the Prophet Mohammad with the body of a dog, was killed in a car crash near the southern town of Markaryd on Sunday, police said.

Vilks (above), 75, who had been living under police protection since the drawings were published, was travelling in a police vehicle which collided with a truck. Two police officers were also killed.

"This is a very tragic incident. It is now important to all of us that we do everything we can to investigate what happened and what caused the collision," Swedish police said in a statement on Monday.

"Initially, there is nothing that points to anyone else being involved."

Most Muslims consider any depiction of Prophet Mohammad as offensive.

Since the publication of the cartoons, Vilks had been living under around-the-clock police guard following threats against his life.

He had a bounty put on his head and his house was fire-bombed.

In 2015, one person was killed in Copenhagen, Denmark, at a meeting meant to mark the 25th anniversary of an Iranian fatwa against British writer Salman Rushdie, which Vilks attended.

Vilks was widely seen as the intended target.

Vilks had said that the cartoons were not intended to provoke Muslims, but to challenge political correctness in the art world.

- Reuters

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kt notes:

Most Muslims around the World rejoice in his death, some no doubt attributing his demise to wilful disrespect to Prophet Mohamad pbuh. Likewise, the Chunky Chubby C11bye Fei-Lo must realise his gross disrespect to Hindu deities will face similar divine retribution.

Kali Maa is coming for you Fei-Lo, wakakaka.