Redd politician’s threats were never meant to go public, says recipient

The man who received threatening messages from Norwegian politician Mímir Kristjánsson (Red Party) has expressed sympathy for him after the case gained widespread media attention, NRK reports.

The recipient, a private individual in his 60s, had tipped off several media outlets about the messages but did not expect the story to escalate. “I never imagined it would blow up like this,” he told NRK. “I can’t help but feel sorry for him now. That wasn’t the intention—to create such a burden for him.”

Kristjánsson, a member of Norway’s Red Party, sent the man messages threatening to involve “friends from Hells Angels” and take the matter to “the bank.” The party has since issued a formal reprimand, with party secretary Reidar Stisland confirming to Dagbladet that Kristjánsson had apologised “unreservedly.”

“Mímir has received a reprimand from me and offered a full apology. As far as we’re concerned, the matter is closed,” Stisland said. Party leader Marie Sneve Martinussen condemned the threats as “completely unacceptable” but stated no further action would be taken beyond the reprimand. The case has been reported to police.

Kristjánsson, who admitted to being intoxicated when sending the messages, publicly apologised, calling his actions “pathetic.” “I sent those messages to test myself. When I read them the next day, I thought they were pitiful,” he told Dagbladet. He claimed the exchange began after the recipient sent him a “smug” message calling him “pathetic,” to which he responded with aggressive threats.

The recipient has filed a police report over the incident.