Incident Summary:

1/26/2001: Benjamin Hermansen, a teenager with both Guanaian and Norwegian parentage, was stabbed and killed in Oslo's suburb of Holmlia, Norway. Five people were arrested in Norway in connection to the killing; all five were part of a neo-Nazi group called the Bootboys. A sixth person was detained in Denmark. Hermansen had been outspoken in fighting racism.

GTD ID:
200101260006

When:
2001-01-26

Country:
Norway

Region:
Western Europe

Province/administrative
region/u.s. state:

Oslo

City:
Holmlia

Location Details:
A car park in Oslo's residential suburb of Holmlia

Attack Information
Type of Attack (more) Armed Assault
Successful Attack? (more) Yes
Target Information (more)
Target Type: Private Citizens & Property
Name of Entity Civilian
Specific Description Benjamin Hermansen, a teenager with both Guanaian and Norwegian parentage
Nationality of Target Norway
Additional Information
Hostages No
Ransom No
Property Damage No
Weapon Information
Type Sub-type
Melee Knife or Other Sharp Object
Weapon Details
The victim was stabbed multiple times in the chest and stomach
Additional Information
Suicide Attack?No
Part of Multiple Incident?No
Criterion 1 (more) Yes
Criterion 2 (more) Yes
Criterion 3 (more) Yes
Doubt Terrorism Proper (more) Yes
Alternate Designation (more) Other Crime Type
Additional Information The victim was with a Norwegian person at the time of the attack; the Norwegian was not injured by the attackers.
Perpetrator Group Information
Group Name Claimed Responsibility
Neo-Nazi extremists No
Perpetrator Statistics
Number of Perpetrators 6
Number of Captured Perpetrators 6
Casualty Information
Total Number of Casualties 1 Fatalities / 0 Injured
Total Number of Fatalities 1
Number of U.S. Fatalities 0
Number of Perpetrator Fatalities 0
Total Number of Injured 0
Number of U.S. Injured 0
Number of Perpetrators Injured 0
Sources
"Neo-Nazis detained in slaying of black Norwegian teen-ager," Associated Press, January 28, 2001.
"Oslo to consult Sweden, Germany on neo-Nazi crime," Reuters, January 29, 2001.
"Funeral held for black teen killed in racist attack in Norway," Agence France-Presse, February 6, 2001.