A neo-Nazi linked to Norwegian mass killer Anders Behring Breivik has been arrested in France today following fears he might stage a large “terrorist act”. Kristian Vikernes, a well-known black metal musician in Norway, was arrested with his French wife Marie Chachet after she recently bought four rifles.
The 40-year-old, who is a convicted murderer from Norway, had in the past received a copy of a manifesto from Breivik, the far-right militant who killed 77 people in 2011.
In a statement, France’s Interior Minister Manuel Valls said: “Having received the manifesto before (Breivik) committed his crimes and having been sentenced in Norway in the past for murder, this individual, who was close to a neo-Nazi movement, was likely to prepare a large terrorist act.”
Officers were searching his home in Correze for weapons and explosives, a police source said.
Breivik sent a copy of his manifesto setting out his ideology to Vikernes, an official at the Paris prosecutor’s office said. 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.