Black metal madman Varg Vikernes of Burzum and Mayhem fame was arrested earlier today on suspicion of planning a massacre. This comes less than four years after his release from prison after serving 16 years for the murder of his friend/Mayhem bandmate Oystein ‘Euronymous’ Aarseth.
If there is anyone who completely embodies the Norwegian Black Metal stereotype, it’s Varg Vikernes. Be it burning churches or murdering bandmates, the guy can’t seem to keep a low profile. French intelligence agency DCRI arrested 40 year old Vikernes this morning at his home in a central France farm commune where he has been living with his wife and three children. There is suspicion that he has been planning some sort of massacre.
This latest investigation into his activities began after the July 2011 Oslo bombing that claimed 77 lives, most of which were children. The Norwegian nationalist bomber, Anders Breivik, sent his 1,518 page manifesto by e-mail to 530 recipients, one of whom happened to be Vikernes. That, coupled with other indications that the musician might have something up his sleeve, lead authorities to take him in. Vikernes’ wife, whom he met while incarcerated, has also been detained. A member of a shooting club herself, she recently purchased four rifles which may or may not have anything to do with the accusations. A search of their residence is currently underway.
Vikernes gained notoriety within the small Black Metal scene and later nationally when he was arrested for involvement in the burning of at least three churches in Norway. Though those charges were ultimately dropped, he ended up in prison anyway for brutally stabbing to death his friend and Mayhem bandmate Oystein ‘Euronymous’ Aarseth in August of 1993. He was released on probation in early 2009 after serving nearly 16 years of his 21 year sentence. A vocal Norwegian nationalist and neo-Nazi, Vikernes has been waxing poetic for some time on the evils of “lesser races” via his and Burzum’s blogs.
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