Norwegian television, TV2 contacted with a man who studied with the kidnapped man. According to the classmate, Grimstad-Ofstad was known that he sympathized with extreme groups such as Arne Myrdal’s far-right movement Folkeaksjonen mot innvandring.
– He was inclined to extreme. Now it seems that he is very concerned about the war in Syria and on Facebook he calls himself an identitarian, says the classmate.
The Identitarian movement is a pan-European socio-political movement started in France in 2002 as a far right youth movement deriving from the French Nouvelle Droite Génération Identitaire. Initially the youth wing of the anti-immigrant, far-right Bloc Identitaire, it has taken on its own identity and is largely classed as a separate entity altogether with the intent of spreading across Europe.
Grimsgaard-Ofstad was also reportedly involved in several clashes with left-wing Norwegian movement Blitz in 90s, and was seen as controversial among his peers, according to TV2.
With Syrian Nationalists
In 2013 he visited Syrian nationalists in Lebanon. Then he posted a photo on his own Facebook account together with two members of the Syrian National Party (SSNP).
SSNP is a party that was founded with the goal of creating a Greater Syria, and operating in Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan and Palestine as well as Syria.
In Syria they have cooperated with President Bashar al-Assad party in Lebanon, they have been associated with Hezbollah.
According to the Norwegian authorities there is no suspicion that Grimsgaard-Ofstad joined in any armed fight.
Family Rejects to Talk to Media
Grimsgaard-Ofstad’s family rejects to contact with the press.
“This is a very difficult time for us, and we do not want contact with the media in the coming period. We ask this to be respected. “, writes the family to TV2.
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