'Innocence of Muslims' filmmaker interviewed by authorities

A filmmaker named Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, who is linked to the inflammatory film Innocence of Muslims, was interviewed today by federal probation authorities, according to the AP. The interview took place early this morning at a sheriff’s station in Nakoula’s hometown of Cerritos, Calif. The filmmaker was not arrested. In 2010, Nakoula pleaded no contest to bank fraud charges.

Authorities have identified Nakoula as the key figure behind the Innocence of Muslims. The movie lampoons the prophet Mohammed and inspired riots in many Middle Eastern countries, one of which led to the killing of the U.S ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens, after a trailer for the film appeared on YouTube.

Yesterday, one of the film’s few supporters, Terry Jones, told EW that the movie’s producer was concerned for his safety. Jones is the founder of the Stand Up America organization and is himself an outspoken critic of Islam. Jones had talked with the producer — who he said did not reveal his name — about distributing the film and on Sept. 12 Jones uploaded the movie’s trailer to the Stand Up America Facebook page. “I spoke to him yesterday twice,” Jones told EW on Friday. “He is definitely very concerned, afraid, and is definitely not planning on coming public in any form.”