'Passion' prompts confession from neo-Nazi
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-03-31 09:50

A Norwegian man trying to put his neo-Nazi past behind him confessed to bombing a youth group's headquarters in the 1990s, saying he admitted his guilt after seeing "The Passion of the Christ."

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat (L) watches the film 'The Passion of Christ,' directed by Mel Gibson, with a Christian delegation who visited him at his office in the West Bank town of Ramallah, March 20, 2004. [AP]

The Oslo district court on Monday ordered Johnny Olsen, 41, held for two weeks for investigation after he turned himself in to police during the weekend. He said he conducted two bombings in 1994 and 1995 of a left-wing youth group's headquarters. No one was injured in the separate attacks on the Blitz House in downtown Oslo.

Olsen, who was convicted of murder when he was a teenager and served 12 years in prison, said he was moved to his confession by Mel Gibson's film that graphically portrays Christ's crucifixion.

People wait in line during the premiere of 'The Passion of The Christ' in Managua, Nicaragua, March 18, 2004. Throughout the 16 theaters in the capital, some 10,000 tickets have been purchased by bishops and priests of the Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua. [AP]

As he entered the courtroom for his detention hearing Monday, Olsen, in a choked voice, told reporters that "Jesus lives" and "I distance myself from my past and neo-Nazism."

His attorney, Fridtjof Feydt, told newspapers that he was stunned by his client's confession, describing it as a "bolt of lightning" after Olsen saw the film.

Olsen is being investigated for arson in the bombings. If convicted, it is likely he would get a light sentence because he confessed and because he led police to an illegal weapons stash.

The film has inspired at least one other person to confess to a crime.

In Texas, Dan R. Leach, 21, saw the film and admitted killing his girlfriend, whose death in January had been ruled a suicide.

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