Norwegian black metal frontman Kristian ‘Varg’ Vikernes is set to stand trial on allegations of racial hatred and exalting war crimes on the internet, according to the International Business Times. The Burzum singer was arrested in July by authorities who feared he may be prepping for a “major terrorist attack” after his wife was detained for buying four rifles in Salon-la-Tour.
A convicted murderer and self-proclaimed Neo-Nazi, Vikernes has also been linked to Norwegian mass killer Anders Behring Breivik. Breivik sent a copy of his manifesto to Vikernes, the Paris prosecutor’s office told the IBT. Breivik killed 77 people in 2011 during a shooting spree in Utoya and bombing in central Oslo.
The arrest and manifesto spearheaded the investigation towards the recent charges on Vikernes, the office said. Vikernes has already served 15 years of a 21-year prison sentence for the murder Øystein “Euronymous” Aarseth, guitar player for the Norwegian black-metal band Mayhem and for burning three churches.
Vikernes is citing wrongful arrest on French authorities for the terrorism charges after initially saying they were respectful in handling the arrest. In the meantime, Vikernes has launched a crowdfunding effort to help with his legal fees.
