Lars Vilks, Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) Cartoonist Dies in Car Crash

Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks who depicted cartoons of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has died in a car accident. 

AFP reports that Vilks lived under police protection after his 2007 depiction of Islam’s last and greatest prophet sent as a mercy unto mankind. 

Swedish police confirmed to AFP that the 75-year-old Vilks and two police officers were killed near the small town of Markaryd when the car Vilks was travelling in crashed into an oncoming truck. Both vehicles caught fire and the truck driver was hospitalised.

According to police there was no suspicion of foul play.

“This is being investigated like any other road accident. Because two policemen were involved, an investigation has been assigned to a special section of the prosecutor’s office.” 

In a statement, the police said the cause of the accident was unclear.

Vilks had been under police protection since his 2007 cartoon of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) with an animal’s body prompted outrage among Muslims who considered the drawings deeply offensive or blasphemous.