The fire alarm was triggered at Stensgård Church in Nannestad at 3.30 a.m. Someone had attempted to set fire to the church’s entrance door. Not far away, police found two men in their twenties from Østfold. They have been arrested and charged.

– Circumstances at the scene led to the arrest of the two men, who have been charged with arson at the church, said operations manager Rune Isaksen of the Eastern Police District.

Further back in time, it was Satanists who were responsible for church arsons. In recent years, it has been Islamists who have set churches alight, such as in the fire at Dombås Church.

Stensgård is a hamlet in the municipality of Nannestad. One wonders how and why two men in their twenties from Østfold travelled there to set fire to a church.

Many churches have burned in Western Europe in recent years, particularly in Sweden and France. Not long ago, the words “Norwegians Must Die” were painted in large letters on Eidsvoll Church.

It caused considerable unease in the local community, but attempts were made to play it down.

If people travel long distances to burn down wooden churches, entirely new questions arise regarding guarding and security.

There is also a social aspect: if followers of another religion set churches on fire, it could have major consequences for relations between the indigenous population and, for example, Muslims.

[https://www.document.no/2024/03/26/brannskadet-for-80-millioner-dombas-kirke-gjenapner-etter-paske/](https://www.document.no/2024/03/26/brannskadet-for-80-millioner-dombas-kirke-gjenapner-etter-paske/)

[https://www.document.no/2020/08/19/abdul-ma-svare-for-skader-for-20-millioner-kroner-pa-verneverdige-dombas-kirke/](https://www.document.no/2020/08/19/abdul-ma-svare-for-skader-for-20-millioner-kroner-pa-verneverdige-dombas-kirke/)

[https://www.document.no/2011/04/12/de-brente-vare-kirker/](https://www.document.no/2011/04/12/de-brente-vare-kirker/)