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We burned the churches
"Bergens Tidende" newspaper (20.01.1993)
Finn Bjørn Tønder
"We are behind all church arsons in Norway. It began with Fantoft Stave Church. And we won't stop now".
Anonymous citizen of Bergen, circa 20 years.
Devil worshippers take responsibility for eight church arsons.
"Our goal is to spread fear and madness. Fear of the powers of darkness - that is also why we tell this to "Bergens Tidende". We are behind all the church arsons in Norway. It began with Fantoft Stave Church. And we don't stop with the eight church fires until now".
Anonymous citizen of Bergen, circa 20 years.
Devil worshippers take responsibility for eight church arsons.
"Our goal is to spread fear and madness. Fear of the powers of darkness - that is also why we tell this to "Bergens Tidende". We are behind all the church arsons in Norway. It began with Fantoft Stave Church. And we don't stop with the eight church fires until now".
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We burned the churches
A devil-worshipping group with headquarters in Bergen and Oslo has set all church arsons in Norway over the past year. This claims a 20-year-old member of this grotesque sect to "Bergens Tidende". "Bergens Tidende" met the youth in his apartment in Bergen at night. He provides detailed, previously undisclosed, information about the church arsons.
Devil worshippers
"We are the real devil worshipers", says the 20-year-old man to "Bergens Tidende". His and the group's goal is to sow as much fear and sorrow in society as possible. Therefore, they burn down churches and obtain the most bizarre weapons.
Devil worshippers claim responsibility for eight church arsons
"Our goal is to spread fear and madness. Fear of the powers of darkness - that is also why we tell this to "Bergens Tidende". We are behind all the church arsons in Norway. It began with Fantoft Stave Church. And we won't stop with the eight church fires until now..."
The man behind this is a 20-year-old guy. Through two young people who know him from before, "Bergens Tidende" got to meet him at night in his apartment in the southern part of the city.
"Call us what you want. We worship the devil, but we prefer not to use the word Satan. That name is ridiculed by silly quasi-groups. Fools who think they're tough".
The youth's narrative is gruesome and perhaps not immediately believable. However, he can give details of several of the arsons. And among the details there is information that has never been published, information that "Bergens Tidende" was confirmed by the police and at the Gade Institute yesterday. Therefore, there are many indications that the "Bergens Tidende" interviewee speaks the truth. If so, there are groups in Norway that the public must take very seriously.
The man behind this is a 20-year-old guy. Through two young people who know him from before, "Bergens Tidende" got to meet him at night in his apartment in the southern part of the city.
"Call us what you want. We worship the devil, but we prefer not to use the word Satan. That name is ridiculed by silly quasi-groups. Fools who think they're tough".
The youth's narrative is gruesome and perhaps not immediately believable. However, he can give details of several of the arsons. And among the details there is information that has never been published, information that "Bergens Tidende" was confirmed by the police and at the Gade Institute yesterday. Therefore, there are many indications that the "Bergens Tidende" interviewee speaks the truth. If so, there are groups in Norway that the public must take very seriously.
Hates the daylight
It is completely dark in the hallways as we walk up to his attic apartment at 24:00. We have also been told that the youth is armed. "In case you have contacted the police".
The apartment bears the imprint that a not quite ordinary person lives here. Either we are talking about an overgrown boy who finds it exciting with Nazi effects, weapons and satanic symbols. Or maybe "Bergens Tidende" employees have entered a "world" few understand anything about.
The windows are completely covered with carpets. "I hate daylight", explains the thin, long-haired creature that presents itself under an incomprehensible name. Quickly we get the feeling that the youth just likes excitement. It's hard to believe he can tell the truth.
Later we check out details he gives us about the church arsons.
One of the fire investigators says he finds the youth's description of the arson of Åsane church credible.
At the same time, associate professor Inge Morild at the Gade Institute confirms information about the burnt hare that was found at Fantoft Stave Church.
The apartment bears the imprint that a not quite ordinary person lives here. Either we are talking about an overgrown boy who finds it exciting with Nazi effects, weapons and satanic symbols. Or maybe "Bergens Tidende" employees have entered a "world" few understand anything about.
The windows are completely covered with carpets. "I hate daylight", explains the thin, long-haired creature that presents itself under an incomprehensible name. Quickly we get the feeling that the youth just likes excitement. It's hard to believe he can tell the truth.
Later we check out details he gives us about the church arsons.
One of the fire investigators says he finds the youth's description of the arson of Åsane church credible.
At the same time, associate professor Inge Morild at the Gade Institute confirms information about the burnt hare that was found at Fantoft Stave Church.
Fantoft
"We caught a hare at Fana Mountains. It was much more laborious than burning down Fantoft Stave Church".
"At the church we beheaded the dead hare. We laid the carcass on the church steps. We put the head on the ground next to it. The point was to spread more grief. The hope was that the innocent hare would be found", says the youth - "a symbol that goodness should be burned at the stake", as the youth describes it.
Associate professor Morild confirmed to "Bergens Tidende" yesterday that the hare carcass found at the church was without a head.
He said that this information had not been previously disclosed.
"I don't even think the police knew", says Morild. "We cannot determine whether the head was severed or burned with the carcass. Our investigations do not show that".
"At the church we beheaded the dead hare. We laid the carcass on the church steps. We put the head on the ground next to it. The point was to spread more grief. The hope was that the innocent hare would be found", says the youth - "a symbol that goodness should be burned at the stake", as the youth describes it.
Associate professor Morild confirmed to "Bergens Tidende" yesterday that the hare carcass found at the church was without a head.
He said that this information had not been previously disclosed.
"I don't even think the police knew", says Morild. "We cannot determine whether the head was severed or burned with the carcass. Our investigations do not show that".
One man
The devil worshiper says that it was only one man who set Fantoft Stave Church on fire: "He wanted to do it himself. Would not share the sacrifice with anyone. A church that has been worshiped for 800 years was something extra big for us. Had more power. The day itself was well planned".
"The date on the night of Pentecost 1992 evolved satanic symbol 666. The intention was that our accomplices all over Norway should do the same with other churches at exactly the same time".
"But the others got squeamish. It was just talk".
"Fortunately, their cowardice allowed us to have more power over them. They were therefore easier to manipulate later", says the youth.
"The date on the night of Pentecost 1992 evolved satanic symbol 666. The intention was that our accomplices all over Norway should do the same with other churches at exactly the same time".
"But the others got squeamish. It was just talk".
"Fortunately, their cowardice allowed us to have more power over them. They were therefore easier to manipulate later", says the youth.
A dead student
He gives detailed descriptions of where and how the Stave Church was ignited. The information is consistent with the arson investigation.
"We had been in the woods for a long time before the arsonist entered the open hall from the east aisle of the church. We had planned that we would attack the first person to walk through the forest. Knew that students often go there. Unfortunately, no one came. It would have had more effect to sacrifice a dead student than a hare", he says.
He neither laughs nor looks sad. The brutal sentences just keep coming.
"We had been in the woods for a long time before the arsonist entered the open hall from the east aisle of the church. We had planned that we would attack the first person to walk through the forest. Knew that students often go there. Unfortunately, no one came. It would have had more effect to sacrifice a dead student than a hare", he says.
He neither laughs nor looks sad. The brutal sentences just keep coming.
Åsane church
The devil worshiper speaks only in the we form. He says there are six people in total who have participated during the eight church arsons in Norway. Although he does not want to confirm it, "Bergens Tidende" gets the impression that he himself was involved when Åsane church burned to the ground on the night of Christmas Eve.
"The fact that the church was burned on Christmas Eve was just a coincidence. The arson was not planned. The church was burned because it was called "submissive" on TV. We were so pissed at all this splendor in society. A less intelligent person was taken advantage of".
"He went with one of "us". Tried to enter the church through the windows. It didn't work out. Even with an axe. However, the door cracked easily after the axe blows", he says.
"The fact that the church was burned on Christmas Eve was just a coincidence. The arson was not planned. The church was burned because it was called "submissive" on TV. We were so pissed at all this splendor in society. A less intelligent person was taken advantage of".
"He went with one of "us". Tried to enter the church through the windows. It didn't work out. Even with an axe. However, the door cracked easily after the axe blows", he says.
Benzine
The source of "Bergens Tidende" says that they poured benzine on the altar and a Jesus symbol. "If the church did not go up in flames, at least Jesus would burn". He claims that hymnbooks were torn up and laid up the walls. Under the bell tower, an extra amount of benzine was poured. It didn't take many matches before the whole church was in flames.
"After a few seconds, the church bells started ringing. The fire trucks were there after two or three minutes. We were nearby. The press reports about us were almost correct. The poor man who was summoned for questioning had nothing to do with the fire", the youth grins. The smile quickly hardens: "It's not befitting to us to laugh. We have nothing to laugh about in this ridiculous society".
"After a few seconds, the church bells started ringing. The fire trucks were there after two or three minutes. We were nearby. The press reports about us were almost correct. The poor man who was summoned for questioning had nothing to do with the fire", the youth grins. The smile quickly hardens: "It's not befitting to us to laugh. We have nothing to laugh about in this ridiculous society".
Close cooperation with neo-Nazis
The youth "Bergens Tidende" has spoken to confirms that the devil worshiper sect he belongs to also has close ties to neo-Nazis in Norway and other countries.
"We support the Nazis because they are evil. Our goal is to create as much grief and squalor as possible. Personally, I would rather die. But first, I want to spread as much animosity as possible. I suffer along through life to serve my Lord".
He says that cooperation with the neo-Nazis makes a positive contribution. "That's how we obtain weapons. But we also have connections to left-wing radical communities", he mentions one community.
"We try to have contacts wherever we can spread unrest".
Swastikas hang on the walls of the youth's room. The helmet of the German SS also occupies a prominent place in the living room.
"I have Nazi symbols here because they give a nauseating mood for anti-Nazis. My whole life is about making it disgusting for others. The police make it difficult for us to act as we wish. We'd rather kill. And we have one life on our conscience", he says, without wanting to go into details. He said there are also missing persons in Bergen.
"I have no feelings. The most satanic thing is to kill those who created you", he says, again with no facial expressions that reveal anything.
In other languages: Norsk
"We support the Nazis because they are evil. Our goal is to create as much grief and squalor as possible. Personally, I would rather die. But first, I want to spread as much animosity as possible. I suffer along through life to serve my Lord".
He says that cooperation with the neo-Nazis makes a positive contribution. "That's how we obtain weapons. But we also have connections to left-wing radical communities", he mentions one community.
"We try to have contacts wherever we can spread unrest".
Swastikas hang on the walls of the youth's room. The helmet of the German SS also occupies a prominent place in the living room.
"I have Nazi symbols here because they give a nauseating mood for anti-Nazis. My whole life is about making it disgusting for others. The police make it difficult for us to act as we wish. We'd rather kill. And we have one life on our conscience", he says, without wanting to go into details. He said there are also missing persons in Bergen.
"I have no feelings. The most satanic thing is to kill those who created you", he says, again with no facial expressions that reveal anything.
Author: Finn Bjørn Tønder (© 1993 "Bergens Tidende" newspaper, Norway)
In other languages: Norsk
Torgrim Øyre