Kevin Forts isn’t a name that most people recognize, but he came to the forefront yesterday when Der Spiegel posted an interview with him on how and why he supports and sympathizes with Norwegian anti-Muslim mass murderer Anders Breivik.

Øyvind Strømmen brought this to our attention yesterday with his posting here.

Well, having done a little more digging, we learn a few more things about Forts, and he’s apparently received email back from Breivik.

Not content with admiring Breivik from Afar, Forts explained to VGTV why he wrote letters to the imprisoned Breivik:

I decided that I wanted to contact [Breivik’s] legal team to see if there was anything I could do, in the form of support. He said that all money would go to the victims’ funds. So I decided what I would want to do is try to help him ideologically by sending him letters, showing him support, that I believe that he is a nationalist and patriot, not the terrorist neo-Nazi that the media portrays him to be.

Forts has received at least one response from Breivik. HyperVocal quotes the letter from Breivik to Forts: “I have received letters from supporters in 20 countries, but you appear to be someone who can write well. Yes, I am absolutely interested in discussing ideological issues with you and am thinking about how we can work together.”

Forts’ support for Breivik appears to come from his shared belief that, as Truthdig puts it, “Muslims are invading Western nations with help from sympathetic multiculturalists and that they will impose Shariah law if given the chance.”

Germany’s Der Spiegel quotes psychological expert Terje Tørrissen, who has examined Breivik, as saying that the terrorist has received more than a hundred letters from supporters. They ‘use the same language, the same terminology as Breivik. And some say they have been inspired by him and will be more extreme.’

These admirers/fellow travelers could well be considered the Knights Templar that Breivik alludes to in his manifesto. It is truly worrisome that Breivik’s considered a hero to these extremists and that some are apparently considering actions even more extreme. As far as can be determined the two have not met.

Forts could well be on the same path, particularly considering that he’s already come on the police radar after being arrested for assault and battery in his home state of Massachusetts. The Telegram has more on Forts and that assault charge. He had been arrested in February after an alleged confrontation with his girlfriend on campus. The case is pending and Forts is out on $500 bail.

Forts currently attends Assumption College, and the college issued a statement about Breivik and Forts’ support:

Mr. Forts is a senior at Assumption College, the school confirmed this morning. He does not live on campus, the school said.

Late this morning, Assumption College issued a statement on Mr. Forts. It reads: “Kevin Forts has expressed his personal opinion on the Breivik case, and as a U.S. citizen, he is afforded that right. As a Catholic liberal arts institution dedicated to the moral, intellectual and spiritual integrity of the human person, Assumption College condemns the violence that occurred in Norway last July and does not support the opinions expressed by Mr. Forts. The College extends its sympathy to the victims of the violence and their families.”