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Californian tied to film
WASHINGTON -- Federal authorities identified a southern California man who is on federal probation for financial crimes as the key figure behind an anti-Muslim film that has spawned mob violence against American embassies across the Mideast, a U.S. law enforcement official told The Associated Press on Thursday.
There was no sign of Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, 55, at his family's home Thursday in Cerritos, outside Los Angeles, as details slowly began to emerge about his checkered past, his connections among southern California's right-wing Christian organizations and his central role in the production of the film.
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Excerpts from the movie, which the filmmaker said was called Innocence of Muslims, enraged Islamic protesters in Egypt, Libya and Yemen over its portrayal of the Prophet Muhammad.
Attorney General Eric Holder confirmed Thursday the Justice Department had opened a criminal investigation into the deaths of the U.S. ambassador to Libya and three other diplomats killed during an attack on the American mission in Benghazi. It was not immediately clear whether authorities were focusing on Nakoula as part of that probe.
Much about the film remains a mystery, including who financed it. Several actors have come forward and claimed they were duped about their roles and that incendiary language was dubbed over their lines.
Nakoula told The Associated Press he is Coptic Christian.
-- The Associated Press
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 14, 2012 A18
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