Texas Business reports: SAN ANTONIO—Texas Armoring Corporation, producer of lightweight armored passenger vehicles, said bulletproof vehicle sales rose dramatically after Muslim protests erupted last week due to a short video which was posted online portraying the Prophet Mohammad in a negative light.

“Due to the recent violence and protests throughout the world, we’ve seen an explosive increase in armored car sales for U.S. citizens and others living and working abroad,” said TAC executive vice president Jason Forston said in a prepared statement. “Many of our customers are facing the threat of violence and are taking measures to protect themselves.”

 “The current climate of political and economic uncertainty paired with unprecedented anti-U.S. sentiment from much of the Muslim world has made our clients fearful and has pushed them to increase their security and begin armoring their vehicles—in terms of risk mitigation, it’s the right move,”  Forston said. “General inquiries are up 400% over last year at this time, and we’ve already doubled our monthly sales quota for September half-way through the month. We’ve also seen increased demand for blast-resistant bulletproof SUVs to protect passengers from IED and bomb attacks.”

“Our business has been growing steadily and the latest spike in sales was unexpected,” said TAC chief executive Trent Kimball in a statement. “However, in light of these recent events and current developing global trends, we expect to see even more growth in the armored passenger vehicle segment of our market as more business owners, attorneys, physicians, diplomats, religious leaders, and politicians protect themselves against anti-U.S. violence. Many dignitaries that have not been provided armored vehicles as part of their security detail are purchasing personal armored cars at their own expense—we’ve never seen anything like this.”

Kimball noted the reports of Al-Qaida's branch in North Africa calling for attacks on U.S. diplomats and an escalation of protests in Muslim countries.

“It’s statements like these and other violent protests in Asia, North Africa, the Middle East, and Indonesia that have made our international clients worried,” Kimball said. “Even clients in the U.S. are concerned, and we’re glad to meet the demand. We believe that life is valuable, and we’re glad to help our clients protect it.”

Texas Armoring Corporation supplies lightweight armored passenger vehicles, bulletproof cars, cash-in-transit vehicles, armored SWAT trucks, and custom luxury limousines.