Lars Vilks had lived under police protection since depicting Islam’s revered figure with the body of a dog in 2007.
Lars Vilks, the Swedish artist who stirred worldwide controversy in 2007 with drawings depicting the Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) has been killed in a car crash.
Vilks worked as an artist for almost four decades and rose to fame after producing several controversial works [File: Reuters]
The 75-year-old died on Sunday in an accident near the southern town of Markaryd, Swedish police said in a statement.
Vilks, who had lived under police protection since the drawings were published, was travelling in a police car that collided with a truck.
The car, which had left Stockholm and was heading south, veered into the path of the truck and both vehicles burst into flames.
Two police officers were also killed.
The truck driver was flown to a hospital with serious injuries.
Police said they did not know why the car drove into the wrong lane but they were investigating whether a tyre might have exploded.
The car transporting Vilks had puncture-proof tyres, police said. However, exploded tyre remains were reportedly found on the road.
“Initially, there is nothing that points to anyone else being involved.”
SOURCE: NEWS AGENCIES
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Kashmir Today staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)