Seven Muslims arrested over 'plot to kill cartoonist'

[محروم.كوم]

Seven Muslims arrested over 'plot to kill cartoonist

From Times Online - March 9, 2010

Seven Muslims were arrested in the Irish Republic today over an alleged plot to assassinate a Swedish cartoonist who depicted the Prophet Mohammed with the body of a dog, police said

Al Qaeda put a $100,000 bounty on the head of cartoonist Lars Vilks after a newspaper published his cartoon

The four men and three women were detained after an investigation involving European security agencies and the United States’ CIA and FBI


It is understood that some of those arrested hold Irish citizenship and a number are originally from the Middle East

They were detained by gardai in Waterford and Cork in the south of the country for conspiracy to murder Mr Vilks in another jurisdiction as part of an intelligence-led operation

The men and women arrested range in age from mid-20s to late 40s and are detained under Section 50 of Criminal Justice Act 2007 at Waterford, Tramore, Dungarvan and Thomastown Garda Stations

They can be held for seven days
Mr Vilks, who lives in an isolated area of Sweden, was put under police protection after threats were made against his life

When al Qaeda put its reward out for the cartoonist in 2007 it offered a 50% bonus if Mr Vilks was “slaughtered like a lamb” by having his throat cut, while another $50,000 was put on the life of Ulf Johansson, editor-in-chief of Nerikes Allehanda, the local newspaper which printed the cartoon

However those arrested are not believed to be members of the terrorist group
It understood some have converted to the Muslim faith

The arrests were made at around 10am as officers conducted a number of raids
Gardai said the operation was supported by members from National Support Services and the Republic’s anti-terrorist Special Detective Unit

A Garda spokesman added: “Throughout the investigation An Garda Siochana has been working closely with law enforcement agencies in the United States and in a number of European countries
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