here's what happened after the escape and how they caught him:
Part 2
Varg Vikernes defence lawyer John Christian Elden has spoken to Norway's NRK about his client's failure to return to prison as scheduled after a short leave.
Refusing to comment on whether or not he's been in contact with Vikernes during the 24-hour period the inmate has been on the run, Elden offered this explanation for Vikernes' actions: "I believe it stems from frustration that has been built up [over the years]. [Varg] has been serving his sentence in an exemplary fashion, he's put the sins of his youth behind him, and he's held hopes of re-entering society in a relatively normal manner. Then a couple of weeks ago, he saw a newspaper article in the local press where the media once again focused on the fact that a 'dangerous' person was being held [in this community] and [it stirred up emotions inside him]."
The BURZUM mastermind, who is serving a 21-year sentence at a prison in Vestfold, Norway for the August 1993 murder of MAYHEM guitarist Oystein Aarseth (a.k.a. Euronymous), the burning of three churches, and the resulting death of a fireman, was supposed to return to the prison by midnight Saturday (October 25) after a 17-hour leave, but when he failed to show up as scheduled, the local police distributed his description to the appropriate law-enforcement and media channels, which automatically went out internationally through Interpol. Varg, who is also known as Count Grishnack, or Greven (Norwegian for "Count"), had reportedly told his mother and girlfriend that he was due back at the prison at 3:00 p.m. Sunday (October 26), but when there was still no sign of him at this time, the police issued an alert to all police authorities in the Schengen-area (countries that belong to the European Union and some others, such as Norway).
At this time, the police have no information indicating that Vikernes has left, or has attempted to leave, the country. "We have confirmation that he's been in Oslo, but we don't know where he is at the moment," inspector Torje Arneson told Aftenposten Sunday night. "Obviously, it's serious that he hasn't [reported back to the prison in Vestfold] at the scheduled time, but he's such a well-known figure in Norway that we don't believe he can stay in hiding for very long."
Part 3
Varg Vikernes threatened a family with a pistol and hijacked their car in a failed bid to elude the Norwegian police during his 24 hours on the run, it was reported Monday.
At approximately 4:30 p.m. on Sunday (October 26), a family of three driving through the valley known as Numedal in Buskerud County reported being flagged down by a pedestrian. When they stopped to assist him, the pedestrian believed to be Vikernes allegedly threatened them with a handgun and forced them to surrender their car.
"They explained that they were held at gunpoint and were forced to leave the vehicle, and that the man [Vikernes] took off in it," police spokesperson Knut Svalheim told wire service NTB.
The car was ultimately spotted around midnight Sunday by an unmarked police patrol in Romerike, north of Oslo. Believing Vikernes to be armed, police responded with five police cars and armed officers.
"We signalled for him to pull over, but when he failed to respond, we had to press his car in between two police cars ," police operations leader Vidar Hjulstad said.
Although no gun was found, a knife or a bayonet was reportedly retrieved from the vehicle. However, at this time, it is not clear if the knife belonged to Vikernes or the family who owns the car.
On Monday, authorities will decide whether Vikernes should return to the low-security prison Berg, where he was serving the a 21-year-sentence for the August 1993 murder of MAYHEM guitarist Oystein Aarseth (a.k.a. Euronymous), or be transferred to a maximum-security prison.
Meanwhile, Varg's mother Helene Bore has revealed the content of a letter her son left her while visiting her Saturday. In it, Vikernes writes that following a critical article in the local paper Tønsbergs Blad on October 15, there was an attempt on his life when another inmate tried to strangle him.
"Mother, I will flee," Vikernes allegedly wrote in the letter.
"When I read in his letter that his life had been threatened, I had a better understanding of why he made the choice of [trying to flee]," Helene Bore told Dagbladet. "He couldn't tell the prison staff about the threats, because he was afraid they'd put him back in a locked cell. But he feared the threats."
Even though Vikernes was sentenced to 21 years in prison in 1994, he was set to serve only another two years of his sentence. A couple of months ago, he was transferred to the low-security prison Berg in Tønsberg where the main gate isn't locked. Still, inmates very rarely opt to escape since they only have a short period of time left of their sentences before being released.
The hunt for Vikernes is now set to spark a debate in Stortinget, Norway's Parliament, about the prison system which allows inmates short leaves from jail. A member of the opposition has already called for a review of the system.
"The rules of how early one is released have just been changed and Varg was certain he would have to serve at least another four years," explained Bore who believed this contributed to her son's frustration.
"I was as surprised as everyone else when he fled. But when I read the letter, I could see that the situation seemed hopeless to him."
The article in Tønsbergs Blad was critical of the fact that Vikernes, a convicted murderer with right-wing beliefs, was transferred to a low-security prison. Eight years ago, Varg started the national socialist group Norsk Hedensk Front (Norwegian Heathen Front), which he ran from his cell in Trondheim at the time. In an e-mail to Dagbladet, NHF claimed that Vikernes is no longer a member of the organisation "because it's best both for us and him."
According to his mother, Vikernes no longer is in contact with neo-Nazi groups and his one and only wish is to lead a normal life.
"For a while he thought that it was possible for him to have a normal life," she said. "But after the article in that newspaper he felt that it was hopeless. He feels that no matter what he does he will be haunted by the past. He will never be done paying for his crimes."
Helene Bore is concerned for her son, but happy that he wrote the letter.
"This way I don't have to fear that someone has done something to him or that he's done something to himself," she said. "I do wish he'd chosen another way out. If he'd talked to me, I would've advised him to complete his sentence. But he's apparently given the matter a great deal of thought and couldn't bring himself to deal with it in any other way. He's spent his entire adult life incarcerated and is a good boy."
Part 4
day after he failed to return to prison as scheduled following a short leave, Varg Vikernes was captured by the Norwegian police on a highway outside the country's capital.
Vikernes was taken into custody at 12:45 a.m. Monday morning (October 27) after police in Oslo received information from police in Romerike that the fugitive was travelling in a car on the E6 road to Oslo.
"We signalled for Vikernes to stop, but when he didn't, we were forced to box his car in between two police vehicles. There was a dent [to the car]," Officer Vider Hjulstad told NTB.
Varg Vikernes was alone and unarmed at the time of his arrest.
Part 5
BURZUM mastermind Varg Vikernes, who is serving a 21-year sentence for the August 1993 murder of MAYHEM guitarist Oystein Aarseth (a.k.a. Euronymous), was carrying enough arms and military equipment at the time of his latest arrest to pass for a commando, Norwegian daily newspaper VG reports in today's edition. Police have refuted the newspaper's report that an AG3 automatic rifle was found in the stolen Volva Vikernes was travelling in when he was captured following an attempted jailbreak. However, they have not disputed the rest of the report, which included information that that other elite soldier equipment a gas mask, knives, camouflage clothing, a portable Global Positioning System satellite navigator, maps, a compass, a mobile telephone, a headset and a laptop were retrieved from the vehicle at the time of Varg's arrest.
These shocking revelations have led the police to put a lid on information related to the investigation. The police department, the defence ministry and the police's special national security unit PST have jointly launched a massive hunt for several people who are believed to have helped Vikernes in his escape from prison.
According to the information obtained by VG, the police have concluded that Varg's escape was well planned and involved assistance from several people on the outside. Varg was transferred on August 4 from a maximum-security prison in Bergen to the low-security prison Berg. Between August 29 and September 1, Vikernes was given a free pass from prison, and the authorities are now focusing their efforts on finding out the identities of all the individuals Varg might have met with during this period.
Before hijacking a Volvo from a family of three Sunday afternoon, Vikernes reportedly disposed of a BMW which an inmate at another prison purchased as late as last week. Police spokesperson Vidar Franksson in Flesberg confirmed to NRK that the inmate offered this information during an interrogation following Varg's latest arrest. VG reports that a bulletproof vest was found in the BMW and police have also confirmed that a handgun was found in a cabin in Rollag, which Vikernes has admitted to breaking into while on the run. Varg is believed to have spent Saturday night at the cabin and narrowly eluded heavily armed police, who were on their way to the secluded location shortly prior to his capture on a highway on the outskirts of Oslo early Monday morning.
Part 6
BURZUM mastermind Varg Vikernes, who is serving a 21-year sentence for the August 1993 murder of MAYHEM guitarist Oystein Aarseth (a.k.a. Euronymous), has been charged with armed robbery in connection with his attempted jailbreak Sunday, the Norwegian media has reported.
The charge, which carries a maximum sentence of 12 years, was based a family's claim that Vikernes threatened them with a pistol and hijacked their car an allegation that was corroborated by several eyewitness accounts. Varg was arrested several hours later while travelling in the family's vehicle on the outskirts of Oslo, but no gun was found in the car and Vikernes categorically denies having pointed a pistol at the family.
During an interrogation on Monday, Vikernes reportedly revealed that he was planning to escape to Sweden in the stolen car, but changed his mind after speaking to his mother on the telephone.
Vikernes' defence lawyer, John Christian Elden, spoke to his client on Monday. "[Varg] confirmed that [his] frustration [with how he is being perceived by the media and the general public and the threats that were made on his life while in prison] forced him to flee," Elden told Dagbladet. "He was on his way to Sweden, but changed his mind. After talking to his family, he felt that it wouldn't work [trying to cross the border]."
Police officials are scheduled to decide on Tuesday (October 28) if Vikernes will remain in solitary confinement, where he has been since being taken into custody Monday morning, or if he will be transferred to a maximum-security prison. In either case, Varg will not be returning to the low-security prison Berg in Tønsberg where he was being held at the time of his attempted jailbreak.
Part 2
Varg Vikernes defence lawyer John Christian Elden has spoken to Norway's NRK about his client's failure to return to prison as scheduled after a short leave.
Refusing to comment on whether or not he's been in contact with Vikernes during the 24-hour period the inmate has been on the run, Elden offered this explanation for Vikernes' actions: "I believe it stems from frustration that has been built up [over the years]. [Varg] has been serving his sentence in an exemplary fashion, he's put the sins of his youth behind him, and he's held hopes of re-entering society in a relatively normal manner. Then a couple of weeks ago, he saw a newspaper article in the local press where the media once again focused on the fact that a 'dangerous' person was being held [in this community] and [it stirred up emotions inside him]."
The BURZUM mastermind, who is serving a 21-year sentence at a prison in Vestfold, Norway for the August 1993 murder of MAYHEM guitarist Oystein Aarseth (a.k.a. Euronymous), the burning of three churches, and the resulting death of a fireman, was supposed to return to the prison by midnight Saturday (October 25) after a 17-hour leave, but when he failed to show up as scheduled, the local police distributed his description to the appropriate law-enforcement and media channels, which automatically went out internationally through Interpol. Varg, who is also known as Count Grishnack, or Greven (Norwegian for "Count"), had reportedly told his mother and girlfriend that he was due back at the prison at 3:00 p.m. Sunday (October 26), but when there was still no sign of him at this time, the police issued an alert to all police authorities in the Schengen-area (countries that belong to the European Union and some others, such as Norway).
At this time, the police have no information indicating that Vikernes has left, or has attempted to leave, the country. "We have confirmation that he's been in Oslo, but we don't know where he is at the moment," inspector Torje Arneson told Aftenposten Sunday night. "Obviously, it's serious that he hasn't [reported back to the prison in Vestfold] at the scheduled time, but he's such a well-known figure in Norway that we don't believe he can stay in hiding for very long."
Part 3
Varg Vikernes threatened a family with a pistol and hijacked their car in a failed bid to elude the Norwegian police during his 24 hours on the run, it was reported Monday.
At approximately 4:30 p.m. on Sunday (October 26), a family of three driving through the valley known as Numedal in Buskerud County reported being flagged down by a pedestrian. When they stopped to assist him, the pedestrian believed to be Vikernes allegedly threatened them with a handgun and forced them to surrender their car.
"They explained that they were held at gunpoint and were forced to leave the vehicle, and that the man [Vikernes] took off in it," police spokesperson Knut Svalheim told wire service NTB.
The car was ultimately spotted around midnight Sunday by an unmarked police patrol in Romerike, north of Oslo. Believing Vikernes to be armed, police responded with five police cars and armed officers.
"We signalled for him to pull over, but when he failed to respond, we had to press his car in between two police cars ," police operations leader Vidar Hjulstad said.
Although no gun was found, a knife or a bayonet was reportedly retrieved from the vehicle. However, at this time, it is not clear if the knife belonged to Vikernes or the family who owns the car.
On Monday, authorities will decide whether Vikernes should return to the low-security prison Berg, where he was serving the a 21-year-sentence for the August 1993 murder of MAYHEM guitarist Oystein Aarseth (a.k.a. Euronymous), or be transferred to a maximum-security prison.
Meanwhile, Varg's mother Helene Bore has revealed the content of a letter her son left her while visiting her Saturday. In it, Vikernes writes that following a critical article in the local paper Tønsbergs Blad on October 15, there was an attempt on his life when another inmate tried to strangle him.
"Mother, I will flee," Vikernes allegedly wrote in the letter.
"When I read in his letter that his life had been threatened, I had a better understanding of why he made the choice of [trying to flee]," Helene Bore told Dagbladet. "He couldn't tell the prison staff about the threats, because he was afraid they'd put him back in a locked cell. But he feared the threats."
Even though Vikernes was sentenced to 21 years in prison in 1994, he was set to serve only another two years of his sentence. A couple of months ago, he was transferred to the low-security prison Berg in Tønsberg where the main gate isn't locked. Still, inmates very rarely opt to escape since they only have a short period of time left of their sentences before being released.
The hunt for Vikernes is now set to spark a debate in Stortinget, Norway's Parliament, about the prison system which allows inmates short leaves from jail. A member of the opposition has already called for a review of the system.
"The rules of how early one is released have just been changed and Varg was certain he would have to serve at least another four years," explained Bore who believed this contributed to her son's frustration.
"I was as surprised as everyone else when he fled. But when I read the letter, I could see that the situation seemed hopeless to him."
The article in Tønsbergs Blad was critical of the fact that Vikernes, a convicted murderer with right-wing beliefs, was transferred to a low-security prison. Eight years ago, Varg started the national socialist group Norsk Hedensk Front (Norwegian Heathen Front), which he ran from his cell in Trondheim at the time. In an e-mail to Dagbladet, NHF claimed that Vikernes is no longer a member of the organisation "because it's best both for us and him."
According to his mother, Vikernes no longer is in contact with neo-Nazi groups and his one and only wish is to lead a normal life.
"For a while he thought that it was possible for him to have a normal life," she said. "But after the article in that newspaper he felt that it was hopeless. He feels that no matter what he does he will be haunted by the past. He will never be done paying for his crimes."
Helene Bore is concerned for her son, but happy that he wrote the letter.
"This way I don't have to fear that someone has done something to him or that he's done something to himself," she said. "I do wish he'd chosen another way out. If he'd talked to me, I would've advised him to complete his sentence. But he's apparently given the matter a great deal of thought and couldn't bring himself to deal with it in any other way. He's spent his entire adult life incarcerated and is a good boy."
Part 4
day after he failed to return to prison as scheduled following a short leave, Varg Vikernes was captured by the Norwegian police on a highway outside the country's capital.
Vikernes was taken into custody at 12:45 a.m. Monday morning (October 27) after police in Oslo received information from police in Romerike that the fugitive was travelling in a car on the E6 road to Oslo.
"We signalled for Vikernes to stop, but when he didn't, we were forced to box his car in between two police vehicles. There was a dent [to the car]," Officer Vider Hjulstad told NTB.
Varg Vikernes was alone and unarmed at the time of his arrest.
Part 5
BURZUM mastermind Varg Vikernes, who is serving a 21-year sentence for the August 1993 murder of MAYHEM guitarist Oystein Aarseth (a.k.a. Euronymous), was carrying enough arms and military equipment at the time of his latest arrest to pass for a commando, Norwegian daily newspaper VG reports in today's edition. Police have refuted the newspaper's report that an AG3 automatic rifle was found in the stolen Volva Vikernes was travelling in when he was captured following an attempted jailbreak. However, they have not disputed the rest of the report, which included information that that other elite soldier equipment a gas mask, knives, camouflage clothing, a portable Global Positioning System satellite navigator, maps, a compass, a mobile telephone, a headset and a laptop were retrieved from the vehicle at the time of Varg's arrest.
These shocking revelations have led the police to put a lid on information related to the investigation. The police department, the defence ministry and the police's special national security unit PST have jointly launched a massive hunt for several people who are believed to have helped Vikernes in his escape from prison.
According to the information obtained by VG, the police have concluded that Varg's escape was well planned and involved assistance from several people on the outside. Varg was transferred on August 4 from a maximum-security prison in Bergen to the low-security prison Berg. Between August 29 and September 1, Vikernes was given a free pass from prison, and the authorities are now focusing their efforts on finding out the identities of all the individuals Varg might have met with during this period.
Before hijacking a Volvo from a family of three Sunday afternoon, Vikernes reportedly disposed of a BMW which an inmate at another prison purchased as late as last week. Police spokesperson Vidar Franksson in Flesberg confirmed to NRK that the inmate offered this information during an interrogation following Varg's latest arrest. VG reports that a bulletproof vest was found in the BMW and police have also confirmed that a handgun was found in a cabin in Rollag, which Vikernes has admitted to breaking into while on the run. Varg is believed to have spent Saturday night at the cabin and narrowly eluded heavily armed police, who were on their way to the secluded location shortly prior to his capture on a highway on the outskirts of Oslo early Monday morning.
Part 6
BURZUM mastermind Varg Vikernes, who is serving a 21-year sentence for the August 1993 murder of MAYHEM guitarist Oystein Aarseth (a.k.a. Euronymous), has been charged with armed robbery in connection with his attempted jailbreak Sunday, the Norwegian media has reported.
The charge, which carries a maximum sentence of 12 years, was based a family's claim that Vikernes threatened them with a pistol and hijacked their car an allegation that was corroborated by several eyewitness accounts. Varg was arrested several hours later while travelling in the family's vehicle on the outskirts of Oslo, but no gun was found in the car and Vikernes categorically denies having pointed a pistol at the family.
During an interrogation on Monday, Vikernes reportedly revealed that he was planning to escape to Sweden in the stolen car, but changed his mind after speaking to his mother on the telephone.
Vikernes' defence lawyer, John Christian Elden, spoke to his client on Monday. "[Varg] confirmed that [his] frustration [with how he is being perceived by the media and the general public and the threats that were made on his life while in prison] forced him to flee," Elden told Dagbladet. "He was on his way to Sweden, but changed his mind. After talking to his family, he felt that it wouldn't work [trying to cross the border]."
Police officials are scheduled to decide on Tuesday (October 28) if Vikernes will remain in solitary confinement, where he has been since being taken into custody Monday morning, or if he will be transferred to a maximum-security prison. In either case, Varg will not be returning to the low-security prison Berg in Tønsberg where he was being held at the time of his attempted jailbreak.
