Swedish artist Lars Vilks is now confined to his house following an al-Qaeda bounty was placed on his head after he drew the prophet Mohammed with a dog’s body:
Vilks, who was whisked away by police when he returned to Sweden from Germany on Sunday, said he was staying at a secret address after security police described the threats against him as “very serious”.
“Police guard was nonexistent before this. It’s 100% now,” he said in a telephone interview. “I can’t live in my home, I’ve only been allowed to pick up some things.”
A $150,000 reward has been offered for anyone who slits Vilks’ throat, with a mere $50,000 offered for the editor who accepted the cartoon, although the US millitary says the “al Qaeda leader” who offered the bounty is a non-existent character.