Federal authorities question man who may be anti-Muslim filmmaker

Last Updated 7:04 a.m. ET

(CBS News) LOS ANGELES - The filmmaker who may be behind the anti-Islamic movie that sparked widespread protests in the Muslim world against the U.S., some of which turned violent, was escorted from his Cerritos, Calif., home shortly after midnight local time Saturday by Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies.

CBS station KCBS video showed Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, 55, with a hat on and towel around his face, and wearing winter jacket in the L.A. summer heat, being escorted from the suburban L.A. house.

Nakoula, a self-described Coptic Christian, is thought to be the filmmaker behind "Innocence of Muslims."

The Sheriff's Department told KCBS it is assisting federal authorities with an investigation they're conducting, for questioning on a possible violation of his parole..

"Nobody is arrested. Nobody is detained. Nobody is in custody," said a, L.A. Sheriff's Dept. spokesperson.

Reuters reports deputies say Nakoula left his home voluntarily.

Nakoula was convicted in 2010 of bank fraud, and was not allowed to use the Internet.

KCBS correspondent Carter Evans told "CBS This Morning" the probe centers around possible probation violations by Nakoula stemming from the making of the movie, as he was not allowed to use computers or access the Internet as part of his probation.

If Nakoula is indeed behind "Innocence of Muslims," Evans noted, how did the trailer of that film get on the Internet?

After an Arab language version of the trailer was posted, a wave of protests - some violent - erupted across the Islamic world.

An attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, shortly after the video was posted resulted in the deaths of four Americans, including Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens.

The four bodies were returned to the U.S. Friday.

More protests following Friday prayers erupted in cities around the world. At least five people died in clashes between demonstrators and security forces.

To see a report on this from Carter Evans, of CBS Los Angeles station KCBS, click on the video in the player above.

[AsokAsus]

Wow! Freedom of speech? What's that? The following is an action that Stalin himself would approve of:



"Just after midnight, authorities descended on the Cerritos home of the man believed to be the filmmaker behind the anti-Muslim movie that has sparked protests and rioting in the Arab world.



Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies escorted a man believed to be Nakoula Basseley Nakoula to an awaiting car.



On Friday, U.S. courts spokeswoman Karen Redmond said the Office of Probation in the Central District of California is reviewing whether Nakoula, who was convicted on bank fraud charges, violated terms of his probation in relation to the video and its uploading onto the web."


I wonder if Black Marias are still available for import from Russia? Looks like we'll be needing a bunch if people keep expressing their beliefs.

[Taffy2012]

The religious extremists in our country and the the religious extremist s in the middle east have a lot in common. They both hate women and they are intolerant of anyone who does not believe as they do.

[T-Prop]

Feds will not need to prosecute.

Most likely, he will be asking for some sort of protection.

Say what you wish free-speech wise.

But stand up and take responsibility.

This one hides his face.

[worlhood]

This is more that a parole violation. This film appears to have been made with the deliberate intention to incite violence and widen the gap between the U.S. and the Muslim world. This film, from what I have seen, has no educational value or profit purpose. The lines of the actors were dubbed over with offensive remarks and the depiction of the Muslim Prophet is a known taboo to Muslims, known to incite violence. When it did not achieve its purpose in English, it was translated to Arabic. Its purpose was to accomplish exactly what it did - violence and death. As such, it is not protected speech, but hate speech for which those who created it can be held criminally accountable. Also, producing a movie like this is not the act of one person, but a well orchestrated endeavor that takes many people and several million dollars to accomplish. It should be thoroughly investigated as an act of homicide, treason and terrorism.

[joshandsox]

I think its a sad state of affairs when Americans have to hide there faces when exercising there right to free speech. I watched the video and he never promoted violence. He has every right to make and distribute this video. You my freind are a facist, you have no right to chose who has protection under our constitution. Matter of fact the protects from people just like you who would prosecute do to differences of opinions. Like it or not, you do not get to decide what is free speech and what is not.

[booker59]

First of all, you're just factually wrong: it is protected speech (this isn't Canada; "hate speech" is indeed covered by the 1st Amendment in the USA)

Second, has anyone ever heard of or gone on YouTube prior to this incident? Just put in the right keywords and you'll come up with cesspools of violent hate against Muslims, gays, African-Americans and any other group you can think of, both in the videos and in the comments threads. (On one thread I've seen the N-word more times than I've personally heard it in my entire half-century of life, and I'm not exaggerating) Without having seen this "film" I'm pretty confident in saying it can't be any worse than a multitude of material that's already appeared on the site. For whatever reason, this is one that people latched onto after shrugging off or ignoring all the others. There's no way of knowing why this or that video goes viral and another one stays obscure.

Let's save charges of homicide, treason and terrorism for those who actually commit these crimes, shall we?

[KPeters_from_UK]

aicohnx3 and DemsLow

Anyone who adds Kenya to their complaints against Obama is obviously doing it as a racist code word. Typical of the Tea Baggers to paint Obama as an outsider and illegitimate..."one of those", not white and therefore not like "me".

[rwoodin]

Monty Python and the Holy Grail....any embassies burned or ambassadors killed? nope.
Monty Python - The Life of Brian....any embassies burned or ambassadors killed? nope.
The Exorcist - any embassies burned or ambassadors killed? nope.
The Passion of the Christ - any embassies burned or ambassadors killed? nope.

[LaurenCleaver]

Wondering...if mysterious Muslims - Osama bin Somebody - made a film with Jesus having sex with a donkey, and Mary giving a blow job to Peter, Paul, or Gabriel - how the religious right of our country would take it...might they not want to burn down a Mosque or two??

The First Amendment has limits folks, the doctrine of Fighting Words is one of them. You no doubt, of course, recall the Burning of the Flag issues, likewise, one can not shout Fire in a crowded theatre absent just cause.

Why on earth these fellows would want to create such an offensive, ignorant film is beyond the pale. Frankly, I do wonder who is behind it - and isn't it convenient for the Defense Department when their budget may need to be trimmed back. I don't know who created it, but it saddens me to no end to think that in this day and age, we have extremist from all sides that are able to manipulate the common goodness of human kind.

[worlhood]

This is more that a parole violation. This film appears to have been made with the deliberate intention to incite violence and widen the gap between the U.S. and the Muslim world. This film, from what I have seen, has no educational value or profit purpose. The lines of the actors were dubbed over with offensive remarks and the depiction of the Muslim Prophet is a known taboo to Muslims, known to incite violence. When it did not achieve its purpose in English, it was translated to Arabic. Its purpose was to accomplish exactly what it did - violence and death. As such, it is not protected speech, but hate speech for which those who created it can be held criminally accountable. Also, producing a movie like this is not the act of one person, but a well orchestrated act that takes many people and several million dollars to accomplish. It should be thoroughly investigated to as an act of homicide, treason and terrorism.

[overview2012]

it doesn't matter why they made the film - what matters is that 4 American ambassadors were killed. it was under the guise of their government that was 'protecting' us. Words are not enough of a response to this. do not continue to underestimate their hatred for us.

[MichaelinPittsburgh]

I just find it difficult to believe that a Coptic Christian would do so much to incite Muslims. This simply stemming from the fact that the Coptic Christians in Egypt and other countries are such a small minority.

[Haydenmon]

Romneys top advisors connected to "Innocence" filmmaker and bloggers who spread the clip


Mitt Romney's Muslim-Baiting Backers
http://www.thenation.com/article/169956/mitt-romneys-muslim-baiting-backers

[RichardNygaard]

Arrest him if he violated his probation, which looks like it probably happened. If he wasn't on probation this would be a non issue with me. He has a right to make this. Also watch it, it wouldn't incite a normal person to riot. There is plentyof stuff like this about other groups on the web and nobody is killing people over it.

[worlhood]

This is more that a parole violation. This film appears to have been made with the deliberate intention to incite violence and widen the gap between the U.S. and the Muslim world. This film, from what I have seen, has no educational value or profit purpose. The lines of the actors were dubbed over with offensive remarks and the depiction of the Muslim Prophet is a known taboo to Muslims, known to incite violence. When it did not achieve its purpose in English, it was translated to Arabic. Its purpose was to accomplish exactly what it did - violence and death. As such, it is not protected speech, but hate speech for which those who created it can be held criminally accountable. Also, producing a movie like this is not the act of one person, but a well orchestrated act that takes many people and several million dollars to accomplish. It should be thoroughly investigated to as an act of homicide, treason and terrorism.