Danish Cartoonist behind Prophet Muhammad Cartoon Dies at 86

Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard, known for drawing prophet Muhammad’s caricature which sparked outrage around the Muslim world, died at the age 86, his family told Danish media on Sunday.

The family told newspaper Berlingske that Westergaard has died in his sleep after a long period of ill health.

In 2005, the cartoonist sparked fierce anger among the Muslim world due to his 12 drawings, published by conservative daily newspaper Jyllands-Posten, under the headline "The Face of Mohammed".

No image of the prophet should be produced or shown, according to Islamic traditions.

The anger escalated into anti-Danish violence across the Muslim world in 2006 which led to violent protests.

In early 2010, Danish police caught a 28-year-old Somalian armed with a knife and axe in Westergaard’s house, where he was planning to kill him.