Pak man hangs himself in German jail

Amir Cheema allegedly tried to attack a German newspaper editor for printing cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad.

A Pakistani who allegedly tried to attack a German newspaper editor for printing cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad apparently hanged himself in jail in Germany, officials said on Friday.

HT Image

Islamabad was attempting to get more information from Berlin about the death in custody of Amir Cheema, a foreign ministry official said.

"Our embassy in Berlin isman in touch with the German government. We are trying to get more details," the official said on condition of anonymity.

"According to initial details from Berlin, the man hanged himself in a prison."

The dead man's father Nazir Cheema told private GEO television that a foreign office official had telephoned him on Thursday and told him about his son's death while in police custody.

Twelve cartoons by several artists were first published in Denmark's Jyllands-Posten newspaper in September and subsequently reproduced elsewhere, mainly in Europe, triggering widespread demonstrations.

Five people died in Pakistan in February during violent protests against both the sketches and the United States.

Muslims consider images of the prophet as blasphemous.