Simen Velle has received death threats after all the commotion surrounding Hårek Hansen. He does not find it amusing. Hårek Hansen has characterised the statements as flippant drunken rambling, but Støre, the media and the Left insist that it is deadly serious.

– Both I and my immediate family have been threatened with death, including with references to Swedish criminal networks. I must admit that although I love politics and try to withstand what comes my way, this is not only far over the line; it makes me and those closest to me unsafe, Velle writes in a status update on Facebook.

Velle emphasises that he has reported the threats to the police and asks that “we can all use the time ahead for an open and honest discussion about politics”. He also writes that he has submitted the threats to PST.

– I confirm that we have received this information, and that several messages are involved. Beyond that, we do not wish to comment further at the present time, says Eirik Veum, communications adviser at PST, to VG. (NTB)