( CNN ) -- Newspapers across Europe Wednesday reprinted the controversial cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed that sparked worldwide protests two years ago . The move came one day after Danish authorities arrested three people allegedly plotting a `` terror-related assassination '' of Kurt Westergaard , the cartoonist behind the drawing . Berlingske Tidende , was one of the newspapers involved in the republication by newspapers in Denmark . It said : `` We are doing this to document what is at stake in this case , and to unambiguously back and support the freedom of speech that we as a newspaper always will defend , '' in comments reported by The Associated Press . Newspapers in Spain , Sweden and the Netherlands also republished the drawing Wednesday as part of their coverage of Tuesday 's arrests . The image , by Morgenavisen Jullands-Posten cartoonist Westergaard , was one of 12 cartoons about the Prophet Mohammed originally published in September 2005 . Westergaard 's cartoon depicted the prophet wearing a bomb as a turban with a lit fuse . Violent demonstrations erupted across the world in early 2006 after other newspapers reprinted the images as a matter of free speech . The uproar came as some Muslims believe it is forbidden by the Quran to show an image of the prophet . Many protesters directed their ire at Denmark , prompting the closure of several Danish embassies in predominantly Muslim countries , including Indonesia and Pakistan . There were also attacks on other diplomatic missions in Iran and Syria among others . The Danish Foreign Ministry has said it is keeping a watch on the situation at its embassies and has yet to report any incidents . Muslim leaders in Denmark Wednesday attacked the republication of the cartoon , as well as the alleged murder plot , while calling for calm . Imam Mostafa Chendid , chief of the Islamic Faith Community , told AP his group was discussing whether to hold a demonstration before parliament , adding : `` We are so unhappy about the cartoon being reprinted . '' `` No blood was ever shed in Denmark because of this , and no blood will be shed . We are trying to calm down people , but let 's see what happens . Let 's open a dialogue . '' The Danish Security and Intelligence Service Tuesday said police arrested a 40-year-old Dane of Moroccan origin and two Tunisians in the Aarhus area of western Denmark following lengthy surveillance . The Danish citizen is charged with a terrorism offense , the intelligence service said , and the Tunisians will be deported . Police have not yet released the names of the three . The target of the plot , the intelligence service said , was the cartoonist for the Danish newspaper Morgenavisen Jullands-Posten , which first published the controversial drawings in September 2005 . The paper identified the cartoonist as Kurt Westergaard . Watch how threats have targeted cartoonists » . `` Not wanting to take any undue risks [ the intelligence service ] has decided to intervene at a very early stage in order to interrupt the planning and the actual assassination , '' the statement by Jakob Scharf , the agency 's director general , said . `` Thus , this morning 's operation must first and foremost be seen as a preventive measure where the aim has been to stop a crime from being committed . '' Westergaard has previously said that he wanted his cartoon to say that some people exploited the prophet to legitimize terror . However , many in the Muslim world interpreted the drawing as depicting their prophet as a terrorist . `` Of course I fear for my life after the Danish Security and Intelligence Service informed me of the concrete plans of certain people to kill me , '' Westergaard said in a statement posted on the newspaper 's Web site . `` However , I have turned fear into anger and indignation . It has made me angry that a perfectly normal everyday activity which I used to do by the thousand was abused to set off such madness . '' CNN 's Paula Newton said the arrests reinforced growing fears in Europe that radical Islam was trying to suppress free speech . `` More and more Europeans feel that Islam is a threat to their way of life , '' Newton said . A recent Gallup poll for the World Economic Forum showed a majority of Europeans believed relations between the West and the Muslim world were worsening . According to the poll this sentiment was strongest held among Danish . Westergaard remains under police protection and does not know whether it will continue . `` I could not possibly know for how long I have to live under police protection ; I think , however , that the impact of the insane response to my cartoon will last for the rest of my life , '' he said . `` It is sad indeed , but it has become a fact of my life . '' Carsten Juste , the paper 's editor-in-chief , said staffers have been `` deeply worried '' for several months . `` The arrests have hopefully thwarted the murder plans , '' he said on the newspaper 's Web site . E-mail to a friend . CNN 's Saeed Ahmed contributed to this report . Copyright 2008 CNN . All rights reserved.This material may not be published , broadcast , rewritten , or redistributed . Associated Press contributed to this report .
NEW : Muslim newspapers reprint cartoon that sparked Muslim protests in 2006 . Kurt Westergaard drawing depicts its subject prophet wearing a bomb as a turban . European police : Several arrested for plotting terror-related assassination 2006 . Newspaper says the target was its cartoonist Prophet Mohammed , behind the cartoon .