Infamous black metal star 'accidentally elected to council'

Our pick of the strange stories from around the world.

Metal star 'accidentally elected to council'

Infamous Norwegian black metal star Fenriz, a drummer for Darkthrone, has reportedly been elected as a local council representative "against his will". Fenriz, whose real name is Gylve Fenriz Nagell, says he was approached and asked if he would be a "back-up candidate". He said he believed he would stand no chance of being elected, but even after running a campaign that consisted of a photo of him holding a cat, with the caption "Please don't vote for me", he was elected and will now serve a four-year stint on his local council.

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Bubble wrap blamed for campus lockdown

Police who responded to an "active shooter" call at the Valley Forge Military Academy in Pennsylvania yesterday say they believe the scare was caused by a "diligent" student who mistook the sound of someone popping bubble wrap for gunfire. Officials went from building to building after the student called emergency services, and the entire campus was locked down for more than an hour before police declared the scene safe.

One dead after bulletproof vest 'test'

Officials in Tampa, Florida, have revealed that a man has been killed by his cousin, as they were testing whether an old bulletproof vest still worked. Police say 23-year-old Joaquin Mendez was sitting with his cousin while wearing the vest, and asked Alexandro Garibaldi, 24, if he thought the vest would still work. Witnesses reported that Garibaldi said "Let's find out", before fatally shooting Mendez once in the chest.