Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Somali attacker 'only aimed to scare Danish cartoonist'
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
Somali attacker 'only aimed to scare Danish cartoonist'
AFP - 2 hours 37 minutes ago
Send
IM Story
Print
Somali attacker 'only aimed to scare Danish cartoonist'
AARHUS, Denmark (AFP) - – A Somali man charged with trying to kill a Dane who caricatured the Prophet Mohammed pleaded not guilty to attempted murder on the first day of his trial Wednesday, insisting he had only aimed to scare the cartoonist.
"I was irritated and frustrated by his comments. I wanted to frighten him but not to kill him," Mohamed Geele, 29, told a packed court in the central Danish town of Aarhus, speaking calmly in Danish.
The Somali -- whose identity was only officially revealed on Wednesday -- had been set to appear before the district court but the hearing was moved to the larger Aarhus Appeals Court to fit in the throngs of reporters and other onlookers who braved tight security to follow the trial.
Geele, who is suspected of breaking into 75-year-old Kurt Westergaard's home on January 1 last year wielding an axe and trying to kill him, could face life in prison if found guilty on all counts: attempted terrorism, attempted murder, attacking a police officer and illegal arms possession.
His lawyer, Niels Strauss, meanwhile told the packed court that "my client only admits to illegal arms possession and breaking and entering."
Geele, who Danish intelligence police say is linked to the Somali Islamist movement Al-Shebab, insisted he had "bought the axe to help a friend cut down a tree."
"But I brought it with me to Aarhus because I was very angry with (Westergaard) and wanted to break down his door to talk with him," acknowledged the defendant, who appeared calm and collected before the court, wearing a black sweater, jeans and glasses.
Geele, who had an obvious limp from injuries he sustained during his arrest, stressed that he was "a Muslim who follows the precepts of Islam and who prays and goes to the mosque."
On the night of January 1, 2010, the Somali "broke down the front door with an axe and destroyed the television set and computer in the living room, screaming in Danish that he was going to kill me because I had offended the Muslim prophet," Westergaard told AFP on the eve of the trial.
The cartoonist, who was alone at home at the time with the five-year-old daughter of a friend, rushed into a bathroom that had been fortified and transformed into a panic room to "seek safety and call the police."
When police arrived, Geele came out wielding his axe and a knife. He was shot twice and placed under arrest.
At the opening of Wednesday's trial, prosecutor Kristen Dyrman played recordings of Westergaard's two frightened calls to police that night for the nine jury members.
"He is breaking down the door! It's very violent. You must come immediately," the cartoonist screamed, insisting: "You must come now or I won't survive. He is going to kill me!"
Before Geele took a train and taxi from his home in Copenhagen to Westergaard's house in Viby, near Aarhus, he had "shaved his entire body and his clothes smelled strongly of perfume," the prosecutor said, hinting that the man had performed a "ritual" often carried out by those who want to die as martyrs.
She also said police had found a computer at the Red Cross centre where Geele worked that he had used to conduct research on axes and to locate Westergaard's home.
The cartoonist has faced numerous death threats since the publication of his drawing of the Prophet Mohammed wearing a turban shaped like a bomb with a lit fuse.
It appeared in the Jyllands-Posten daily on September 30, 2005 along with 11 other cartoons of the Muslim prophet, and sparked angry and even deadly protests across the Islamic world in early 2006.
Westergaard, who is scheduled to testify Thursday, told AFP on Tuesday he thought his attacker would receive "a heavy prison sentence."
"I do not want to excuse his actions, but I would really like to understand how he got to that point. Maybe he was manipulated," he said.
Geele's trial is set to last for nine days and the verdict is expected around the first week of February.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Thousands rally as Tunisia probes regime assets AFP - 45 minutes ago
S. Sudan hits majority needed for independence AFP - 2 hours 1 minute ago
African Union's Odinga in Ghana over Ivory Coast AFP - Thursday, January 20
No breakthrough in Ivory Coast talks: AU envoy AFP - Thursday, January 20
Tunisia faces fresh anti-government protests AFP - Thursday, January 20
News Search
Top Stories
China 'agrees $45 bn trade deal with US'
Britain reviewing royal succession ahead of wedding
Goldman Sachs posts steep drop in quarterly profit
Hundreds rally against Tunisia's new government
Steve Jobs steps aside as Apple profits soar
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Researchers aim to resurrect mammoth in five years
Russian women 'dress like strippers': church spokesman
Steve Jobs steps aside as Apple profits soar
Rape laws blurry for Israelis: researcher
Apple's Steve Jobs taking new medical leave
More Most Viewed »
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Weekend Edition
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo!
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Entertainment
Photos
Yahoo! News Network
Copyright © 2011 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Wednesday, 19 January 2011 Lebanon tribunal charges under wraps as tensions rise
Suicide bomber kills 50 at Iraq police centre
Haitian authorities detain Baby Doc Duvalier
|
Apple share price drops on Jobs health fears
Two charged over iPad hacking on AT&T network
Magnitude 7.4 quake hits Pakistan: USGS
|
Qatar, Turkey hold talks on Lebanon crisis
Police take Duvalier from Haiti hotel
American Airlines, Priceline in distribution deal
Italian soldier killed in Afghanistan
Citigroup posts first year of profit since crisis
Egyptian dies after Tunisia-style torching
Sharks are colour-blind: study
Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban welcome new baby
Egyptians set themselves ablaze after Tunisia unrest
Boeing delays first Dreamliner delivery to autumn
Mutilated bodies found near Mexico's richest city
|
Russian women 'dress like strippers': church spokesman
Suicide bomber kills 45 police recruits in Iraq
Iran bans production of Valentine's Day gifts
Bosnian turned Israeli held for Srebrenica massacre
US strike kills five in NW Pakistan: officials
UK royal succession challenge passes first test
|
Man torches himself in Alexandria: official
Hu heads to U.S. as China pushes back on currency
White House: "more must be done" on China currency
Jedinak sends Australia into Asian Cup quarters
S. Korea sink India in Asian Cup, now face Iran
Vietnam reshuffles leaders, but policy seen consistent
Wall Street ponders Apple without Steve Jobs
|
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Dairy prices rise in latest auction
Regis Philbin retiring from "Live with Regis and Kelly!"
Nobel laureate Yunus in Bangladesh court
Helsinki explores building Guggenheim museum
China's Lenovo creates unit for tablets, mobiles
Supreme Court affirms gay marriage law
Nissan Leaf deliveries 'see slow start'
Venezuela, Cuba outfox U.S. with fiber optic cable
|
Thousands of polygamous marriages in Turkey: study
Pakistan stocks ease on profit taking; rupee down
Facebook new frontier in parent-teen relationship
|
Blacks and greys dominate Milan men's catwalks
Berlin festival honors jailed Iranian filmmaker
Clearwire names John Stanton as chairman
|
Spacey, Moore and 3D in focus at Berlin film fest
Pubs praised in 100th Michelin guide
'Toylet' games make a splash in Japan urinals
California high school shooting wounds 3 students
Supreme Court denies conservatives' appeal in D.C. gay marriage case
Regis Philbin retiring from Live with Regis and Kelly!
|
"Dynasty" soap series coming to the big screen
Ricky Gervais says won't host Golden Globes again
|
North Dakota Sen. Kent Conrad retiring to avoid 'distracting' campaign
Piers Morgan gets big CNN debut, but beaten by Palin
|
Hard Rock employees launch class action lawsuit for minimum wage
Elton John determined not to spoil new baby
|
Facebook delays plan to share contact information
Delta Air Lines earns $19 million In 4Q
US-TECH Summary
Family of Mexican boy sues U.S. government for border death
Facebook new frontier in parent-teen relationship
Chinas president to meet with Obama on tough issues
Two charged over iPad hacking on AT&T network
Hu wants to keep U.S. attention away from Beijings aspirations
N. Korea hackers attack defector website: report
Trans Alaska pipeline set to resume full service
Clearwire names John Stanton as chairman
US filing charges on hack affecting iPad users
Sprint ups fees for smartphone users by $10
Afghan business lobby stops Iran trade
Berlusconi weakened by latest sex scandal
French teen sets himself on fire: officials
Swiss banker linked to WikiLeaks on trial over secrecy
|
Suicide bomber kills up to 60 police recruits in Iraq
IBM quarterly results top forecasts
Sargent Shriver, Peace Corps founder, dies at 95
Russia's Medvedev pushes peace in Jericho
Steve Jobs surrenders reins as Apple thrives
Apple share price drops on Jobs health fears
Rape laws blurry for Israelis: researcher
US green light for Comcast buy of NBC Universal
Lebanon tribunal charges under wraps as tensions rise
Mutilated bodies found near Mexico's richest city
|
U.S. officials privately say WikiLeaks damage limited
Big quake shakes Pakistan; no casualties, minor damage
|
Internet time tied to teen depression symptoms
Russia puts brakes on further nuclear cutbacks
Sprint raises smartphone monthly fee by $10
Minimum and maximum temperatures in Celsius
Wall Street ponders Apple without Steve Jobs
Afghan refugees on hunger strike in Australia
S. Koreans urged to stay put for Lunar New Year
Nobel laureate Yunus faces charges of defamation
Big quake shakes Pakistan; no casualties
"Hannah Montana" finale sets ratings record
Taiwan ex-military police chief jailed for 16 years
Ricky Gervais says won't host Golden Globes again
Panic as major quake hits Pakistan
Google investors to look beyond search
|
One dead, 15 injured in Pakistan cart bomb: police
Apple's bright view outshines Jobs's plight
|
Myanmar rights report says minority group killed, raped
Analysis: Goldman's Facebook retreat reflects new normal
|
Cavendish crashes as Swift swoops at Tour Down Under
Russians seek omens and foretell husbands in winter ritual
China vows cheaper roads after toll dodger outcry
'Pango and Wally': the new faces of urban Africa
U.S. officials privately say WikiLeaks damage limited
|
Sprint raises smartphone monthly fee by $10
|
"Green Hornet" eyes strong Asian box office
"Idol" semifinalist homeless, or maybe not
TSMC may spend $8 billion on investment this yearp: report
|
"Hannah Montana" finale sets ratings record
Internet time tied to teen depression symptoms
|
Seoul shares open up lifted by tech plays
China TV shows grisly deaths as driving lessons
NZ guest nights rise in November
Bolivia launches fizzy drink made from coca leaf
Conservatives rally behind Ricky Gervais
Alcoa signs $7.5 bn deal with China's CPI
Tyler has "bunch of songs" for new Aerosmith album
Conservatives rally behind Ricky Gervais
|
Idol semifinalist homeless, or maybe not
|
Hannah Montana finale sets ratings record
|
Green Hornet eyes strong Asian box office
|
Nicole Kidman, Keith Urban welcome new baby girl
|
Tyler has bunch of songs for new Aerosmith album
|
Apple share price drops on Jobs health fears
Venezuela, Cuba outfox U.S. with fiber optic cable
Somali attacker 'only aimed to scare Danish cartoonist'
China 2010 rare earth exports slip, value rockets
Hundreds rally against Tunisia's new government
Germany hikes growth forecast for 2011
TSMC may spend $8 billion on investment this year: report
Protests as Tunisia's new unity cabinet meets
|
Brazil judge: Italian fugitive could be sent home
Saudi ends Lebanon mediation, says country at risk
|
Google software for the masses lands in Iran
Haiti charges returned ex-dictator Duvalier
|
Dr. Conrad Murray finds support in Michael Jackson video dancer
Analysis: Goldman's Facebook retreat reflects new normal
Eurozone balance of payments worsens in November
Odinga says Ivory Coast mediation fails, blames Gbagbo
|
Regis Philbin announces retirement from "Live with Regis and Kelly"
Bomb blast kills 20 Afghan civilians in southeast
|
Former Swiss banker linked to WikiLeaks goes on trial
|
Nokia's market share troubles to hit profits
Four troops killed in Thai rebel ambush
|
Afghan official sees big hurdles to capable army
|
South Sudanese in most states back independence: poll
|
U.S. push for Israeli, Palestinian intelligence: WikiLeaks
|
India aims for Asia's biggest tidal power plant
'Lucky' Federer survives Aussie Open thriller
US prepares for difficult talks with China
China 'logs double-digit growth in 2010'
Indonesia's 'poster child for institutionalized corruption' gets 7 years
Korea to offer online lectures on pop culture in Southeast Asia
Alibaba, partners to spend up to $4.5 billion on logistics
|
Man arrested in Indonesia for running prostitution ring through Facebook
Misbah stars as Pakistan seal NZ Test series win
Baidu edges ahead in Chinese online market
SAP sets ambitious goals, faces restructuring: report
|
Thai police charge two Malaysians for drugs
China's online population rises to 457m in 2010
Nokia's market share troubles to hit profits
|
China's economy grows 10.3% in 2010: report
In the chatroom with the cyber guerrillas
|
Former Swiss banker linked to WikiLeaks goes on trial
|
World Bank to help Philippines fight floods
Ericsson faces margin squeeze as sales improve
|
Twitter opens Korean-language website
Sanctions no obstacle as Iranians get their iPads
|
Seoul shares rally as Samsung Elec hits record high
RPT-UPDATE 1-Boeing, Korean Air in talks on 787 delivery
China's Hu: currency system 'product of the past'
Game over for corrupt, wig-wearing Indonesian tax official
Boeing in talks on 787 delivery timeline with Korean Air
Indonesian taxman jailed in massive graft case
Ex-Japan Airlines pilots, cabin crew file lawsuit
Sen. Joe Lieberman expected to announce retirement
Dr. Conrad Murray finds support in Michael Jackson video dancer
Bomb discovered along Spokane MLK parade route
Antidepressants may help treat hot flashes
Obama urged to raise laundry list of grievances and issues with Chinese Prime Minister
U.S. Attorneys Office files charges against 2 men for getting and distributing email addresses of iPad owners
Washington accuses Ottawa of violating 2006 softwood agreement
U.N. plans more troop deployments in Ivory Coast
House Republicans to vote on repealing Obama's health care reform
Obama tries to streamline regulations in his latest executive order
Revamped American Idol looks to regain its mojo
|
Universal to partner new TV singing show The Voice
|
Former Swiss banker linked to WikiLeaks goes on trial
Nokia's market share troubles to hit profits
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights