Thread: Norwegian 'Neo-Nazi' singer Vikernes in French terror arrest

16 July 2013 Last updated at 09:10 ET

'Neo-Nazi' singer Vikernes in French terror arrest


Vikernes was convicted in 1994 of stabbing a man to death in Oslo and burning down several churches

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A Norwegian musician with links to mass killer Anders Behring Breivik has been arrested in France on "suspicion he was preparing a major terrorist act".

The French interior ministry said Kristian "Varg" Vikernes constituted "a potential threat to society".

He was arrested in central France after his wife bought four rifles.

Vikernes, described by French officials as a neo-Nazi, had in the past received a copy of a manifesto from Breivik, who killed 77 people in Norway in 2011.

Breivik planted a bomb in central Oslo and went on a shooting spree on the nearby island of Utoeya in July 2011. He was imprisoned for the maximum 21-year term last year.

An official at the Paris Prosecutor Office said Breivik sent a copy of a manifesto setting out his ideology to Vikernes, who is also a convicted murderer.

The official said: "There were several suspicions that made the services fear he could possibly carry out a violent act."

Legal permit Kristian Vikernes was arrested along with his wife, a French national, in Correze, a region in central France.

Police sources said officers were searching their home for weapons and explosives.

Officials say Vikernes' wife had a legal firearms permit when she bought the four rifles.

Vikernes, a black metal musician and writer known as Varg, was convicted in 1994 of stabbing a man to death in Oslo and burning down several churches.

He was released in 2009 and moved to France with his wife and three children.
On his website, Vikernes discusses Breivik's manifesto, but also criticises him for killing innocent Norwegians.

Breivik's 1,500-page manifesto outlined his planned crusade against Muslims, who he said "were taking over Europe and could only be defeated through a violent civil war".

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-23327165

From Norway Black metal, right-wing extremist arrested for planning terrorist attack Views and News from Norway - ‎3 minutes ago‎ UPDATED: The French government confirmed on Tuesday that Kristian “Varg” Vikernes, the Norwegian black metal musician and right-wing extremist who's been convicted of both murder and setting fire to churches, was arrested in France on Tuesday. . . See all 36 articles »