Støre targeted by threat during fishing trip

Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre of the Labour Party received a threatening comment during a recent fishing trip, Dagbladet reports. He said the incident reflected a political debate that was becoming increasingly troubling.

“I am constantly being threatened and having other things thrown at me. A few days ago, I was fishing in Nord-Trøndelag. Someone wrote in a comment section that they hoped I would fall into the river and drown,” Støre said during a panel discussion organised by Olavsfest in Trondheim on Saturday, according to Adresseavisen.

Støre said he was most upset by the abuse directed at young politicians. He particularly highlighted AUF leader Gaute Skjervø, who has received large numbers of threats and abusive messages.

Skjervø has a personal alarm because of the situation.

“He is receiving death threats of a kind we have never seen in Norway before. I become angry and upset when I hear about it. As prime minister, I make sure that the Norwegian Police Security Service and others are monitoring this kind of thing,” Støre told Adresseavisen after the panel discussion.

In the spring, AUF reported 10 social media posts that it considered hateful statements, including posts directed at Skjervø.