Tunisians suspected of murder plot to remain in custody

Jul 15, 2008, 14:22 GMT

Copenhagen - Two Tunisian nationals suspected of planning to murder a Danish newspaper cartoonist were ordered Tuesday to be kept in custody on the grounds they remain a 'threat to state security.'

The pair were detained in February when security police said they foiled a plot to kill Kurt Westergaard, who in 2005 drew a controversial cartoon depicting the Prophet Mohammed wearing a bomb as a turban.

Westergaard told Danish broadcaster DR he was relieved at the ruling, noting that 'if they had been released I could have met my potential killers on the streets of Aarhus,' he said in reference to the town where he lives. 'They know me, but I don't know them.'

The cartoonist said he had 'stopped being scared,' adding that he trusted the protection offered by the Danish security and intelligence service PET.

The Tunisians were ordered to remain in custody until August 12, the Copenhagen district court ruled. The defence planned to appeal the ruling, news agency Ritzau said.

Lawyer Henrik Stagetorn said that 'if the appeal court upholds the ruling, it will have impact on how little is required for the PET to unlawfully imprison terror suspects.'

At a hearing behind closed doors Monday, PET presented evidence showing one of the suspects had obtained a handgun and that both had watched videos about suicide bombers. They were also alleged to have monitored Westergaard's home.

The defence claimed the evidence was insufficient and failed to meet the requirements of the Supreme Court, which earlier this month ordered a new hearing.

The two face deportation to Tunisia, although some legal experts said this might not happen if can be proved they might be subjected to torture if they return.

Last week, the prosecution dropped its case against a third suspect, a Danish national of Moroccan background.

Westergaard's cartoon was one of 12 images published in September 2005 by the Jyllands-Posten newspaper. They sparked violent protests in 2006, and Danish companies were boycotted in many Muslim countries.

Leading Danish newspapers republished the cartoons after the alleged plot was disclosed, saying the move was to protect freedom of speech.