A man has surrendered and is in custody following Friday’s mass murder in Norway that took the lives of at least 93 people. He says he committed the crimes to warn of a Muslim uprising.
Friday massacre in Norway
Last Friday Anders Breivik, 32, drove a rented car full of homemade explosives to the government building in Oslo, Norway, and detonated them. The bomb killed seven people. Next, Breivik went to the tiny island of Utoeya, the location of a teen youth camp. Breivik, dressed as a policeman, opened fire and left 86 young people dead.
Police took an hour to respond
The police did not arrive for a full hour after Breivik opened fire. The police boat, overloaded with men and equipment, had to be stopped when it started taking on water. A television news crew in a helicopter arrived before the authorities did. When police finally arrived, Breivik gave himself up without further violence.
Monday in court
Breivik was delivered to court Monday morning for a closed-door session with Judge Kim Heger. As the car arrived, angry crowds gathered to shout epithets.
Breivik told the judge that his actions were to save Europe from a Muslim takeover. He said he was not alone, that there were at least two other cells sharing his convictions. Earlier, he had told authorities that he had acted alone. Judge Heger ruled that he should be detained in solitary confinement, with no access to outside media, for eight weeks pending an investigation.
A plea of not guilty
Geir Lippestad, Breivik’s lawyer, related that his client pleads not guilty, though does not deny he committed the crimes. “He has been politically active and found out himself that he did not succeed with usual political tools and so resorted to violence,” Lippestad said. “I await a medical assessment of him.”
Through his lawyer, Breivik called his actions “atrocious but necessary.” He wants to draw attention to his website, a rambling 1,500 page manifesto warning of a Muslim uprising and denouncing the country’s ruling Labor Party for its liberal immigration policy. In the manifesto, Breivik likens himself to a crusader and at one point borrows direct quotes from the Unabomber Manifesto.
Trial could be a year away
The maximum jail sentence in Norway is 21 years. However, if a court feels there is a strong risk of a repeat offense, that term can be extended. In theory, Breivik could be incarcerated for life. Police sources say the trial could be as long as a year away.
Sources
Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/25/anders-behring-breivik_n_908240.html
MSNBC: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43873009/ns/world_news-europe/
Reuters: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/25/us-norway-idUSL6E7IN00C20110725
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