28-year-old Somali who set two Norwegian churches on fire out of revenge for Koran-burning to appear in court

The man who has admitted to setting fire to Dombås church and Sel church must appear in Nord-Gudbrandsdal district court on February 10. 

When the 28-year-old Somali appeared in Nord-Gudbrandsdal District Court in August, he confessed to the circumstances for which he was charged, according to newspaper Gudbrandsdølen Dagningen. 

At the time, the case was postponed due to his health conditions.

The accused explained that he had seen on TV how a Norwegian lit the Koran on fire without being punished for it, so he decided to set fire to the two churches as revenge.

On the night of Thursday, February 20, last year, the man caused significant damage to Dombås church by smashing a window, igniting clothes dampened with a flammable liquid, and throwing them into the church.

A month later, the church at Selsverket near Otta was targeted. 

Remorse and apologies

The arsonist broke a window and poured a flammable liquid into the church. However, a resourceful security guard that was close by arrived just minutes after the alarm went off, which probably saved the building.

During the first day of the trial in August, the accused expressed his remorse.

“I have also apologized, even though I know this is not good enough. But, I can’t do anything else, so I will, once again, apologize,” the accused said.

Source: © NTB Scanpix / #Norway Today / #NorwayTodayNews

Do you have a news tip for Norway Today? We want to hear it. Get in touch at [email protected]