Prosecutor appeals clearing of three of plot to kill Swedish artist

Feb 8, 2012, 16:42 GMT

Stockholm - A Swedish prosecutor Wednesday appealed a ruling that acquitted three men of plotting to kill artist Lars Vilks, whose depiction of the Muslim prophet Mohammed as a dog sparked outrage worldwide in 2007.

The trio were arrested in September on suspicion of planning to kill Vilks but denied the charges during the trial in Gothenburg, although they said they disliked the drawing.

The three men were however fined for violating a law against carrying a knife in public.

In its ruling last month, the court said the men had given inaccurate statements about their movements prior to their arrest, but there motives had not been fully established.

Prosecutor Agnetha Hilding Qvarnstrom said there were 'no alternative reasons' as to why the three had wanted to meet with Vilks, and therefore a higher court should review the case.

She had asked the court to hand down a minimum three-year sentence.

Police spotted the trio near an arts centre that was to host a contemporary art exhibition mentioned by Vilks on his blog. On the day of the exhibition's opening, one of the three men also asked about Vilks at the venue.

Vilks has been under police protection after receiving death threats.