Vilks had been receiving police protection since 2007.
Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks, who caused a great deal of controversy with his depiction of the Prophet Muhammad in 2007, has died following a road crash on Sunday.
75-year-old Vilks was reportedly travelling in an unmarked police vehicle alongside two officers when their car collided with a truck near the town of Markaryd in Sweden.
All three were killed in the subsequent crash.
Vilks’ partner confirmed his death to Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter.
Vilks had been living under police protection for the past 14 years following the publication of a cartoon that depicted the Prophet Muhammad with the body of a dog.
The cartoon prompted outrage from numerous Muslim bodies and Vilks would ultimately receive death threats.
Local authorities have said that it is “unclear” what led to the fatal incident.
“It is with dismay and great sadness that I received the news that our two colleagues and our security person died this afternoon,” said National Police Chief Anders Thornberg on Sunday.
“My thoughts go to relatives, families, friends and co-workers. I am also in contact with the police region South to make sure that they get the support they need at the moment.”
Thornberg noted that there is currently “nothing to suggest” that anybody else may have been involved in the accident.
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