France tries Norway Neo-Nazi Kristian 'Varg' Vikernes

17. 10. 2013

France tries Norway Neo-Nazi Kristian 'Varg' Vikernes


A Norwegian neo-Nazi musician arrested by French authorities in July on suspicion of planning a terrorist act is due to go on trial in Paris.


Kristian "Varg" Vikernes was detained after his wife, a licensed gun holder, bought shotguns and other weapons.

Authorities later conceded there was no specific plot and they were released.

 

Instead Mr Vikernes is now being tried for inciting racial hatred and glorifying war crimes in some of his writings on the internet.

 

 

He is a self-proclaimed neo-Nazi who was once in touch with his compatriot Anders Breivik, the Norwegian far-right militant who killed 77 people in attacks in Norway in 2011.

 

In May 1994 Mr Vikernes received a prison sentence for murdering the guitarist of a rival black metal band and setting fire to churches in Norway.

After his release in 2009 he moved to France with his wife and children.

 

French authorities placed him under surveillance. On 16 July they arrested the couple in the southern region of Correze after the wife began buying shotguns.


Officials later said she had a valid firearms permit and released the pair.

Mr Vikernes has vowed to sue the French authorities for arresting him with "no good reason" and "in the most brutal way possible".

 

He says officials have not returned his firearms or his ceremonial weaponry, including his swords, spears, and helmets.

 

Since coming to France, Vikernes has continued releasing music and writing.

He will be tried on incitement charges related to postings on his blog which prosecutors say were "anti-Semitic and xenophobic".

 

Through his writings he promotes what he calls "Odalism", an ideology based on the idea that White Europeans should re-adopt "native European values".

 

Source: BBC News

France tries Norway Neo-Nazi Kristian 'Varg' Vikernes