Swedish cartoonist Lars Vilks appeared in public on Saturday for the first time since surviving a terror attack last month.
However, the award ceremony was interrupted by the terrorist attack during which Omar El-Hussein, a radicalized Dane of Palestinian origin, killed two people. The gunman was later shot dead by police.
Saturday’s award ceremony was under heavy police surveillance. Vilks spoke during the award ceremony and said he did not intend to become a symbol of freedom of speech.
“Some believe that it is a form of blasphemy, but I say it is what art is all about. I show my things to the world and then the world must interpret it,” Vilks said, as cited by the BBC.
After the February 14 attacks, Vilks now lives in his native Sweden in a secret location under the police guard.
