French Newspaper Evacuated After Threatening Call

"France Soir" was the first European newspaper to reprint the cartoons in solidarity with the Danish cartoonist (file photo) (epa)

6 February 2006 – “France Soir,” the first French newspaper to publish cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad last week, evacuated its offices this afternoon after receiving a threatening call.

Police said the caller threatened to blow himself up at the daily's offices in a Paris suburb. Police sent a team with sniffer dogs. About 60 employees evacuated the building but were able to go back in two hours later.

Antiterrorism police are investigating.

The cartoons first appeared in a Danish newspaper and have been reprinted by “France Soir” and other European media in the name of free speech. The caricatures include a drawing of Muhammad wearing a turban shaped as a bomb.

Muslims have been outraged because Islamic tradition bars any depiction of the prophet.

(AP)