Danish cartoonist rescued from Muslim assault

A 27-year-old man was shot and wounded by Danish police when he and two others tried to enter the home of Kurt Westergaard, a cartoonist who originated a cartoon depicting the prophet Mohammed sporting a turban in the form of a bomb. The cartoon, which ran in a Danish daily newspaper, in 2005 sparked outrage and riots throughout the world. At the time, both Westergaard and Denmark itself were excoriated by the press in Muslim countries and assaults made on Danish embassies, consulates, and personnel.

Following the publication of the offending cartoon, Muslim organizations in the US and elsewhere convened public meetings to instruct non-Muslims in the Muslim doctrine that no such depictions of the originator of Islam should be permitted.

Following the January 1 attack on Westergaard, police vehicles were in evidence outside his home. No bomb was detected. Westergaard’s assailant was wielding an axe when he was shot down by police. The attacker has now been hospitalized.

Westergaard said that he locked himself inside his saferoom at home when he detected the assault. The assailant then tried to knock down the door to the saferoom where Westergaard waited with his five-year-old grandson.

This is not the first time Westergaard has been threatened. In February 2008, the 74-year-old cartoonist was saved by police from another deadly assault by three suspects.