E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSAnders Breivik gave a defiant, closed-fist salute as he walked into the court room on the first day of his trial for 77 murders. ITN's Damon Green reports.
Updated at 12:25 p.m. ET: Militant Anders Behring Breivik admitted he killed 77 people in a massacre last July, but said he was pleading not guilty on the first day of a trial that threatens to turn into a "circus" showcasing his anti-Islamic views.
As he arrived in court - the early part of the session was broadcast on television - Breivik gave a salute, raising his arm with his fist clenched.
The 33-year-old said: "I do not recognize the Norwegian courts. You have received your mandate from political parties which support multiculturalism. I do not acknowledge the authority of the court."
The trial will turn on whether Breivik is found guilty or insane. If sane, he faces up to 21 years in prison; if deemed criminally insane, he would be committed to psychiatric care.
Shed tears
Listening impassively for hours as prosecutors read out an indictment detailing how he massacred teenagers trapped on a island resort outside Oslo, he only shed tears when the court later showed one of his propaganda videos.
Fabrizio Bensch / Reuters
Anders Behring Breivik raises his fist as he arrives to courtroom for the first day of his trial in Oslo, Monday.
"I acknowledge the acts but not criminal guilt as I claim self defence," he added, seated in front of a bullet-proof glass wall.
Occasionally suppressing a yawn, cracking his knuckles and sipping water, he stared down at the indictment papers, following without visible emotion the list of his killings as the prosecutor read out each one. Some details were so graphic that Norwegian television bleeped out descriptions of the massacres.
Breivik shot most of his victims several times, often using the first shot to take down his target then following up with a shot to the head. His youngest victim was 14. He later surrendered as "commander of the Norwegian resistance movement".
Prosecutors played a recording of an emergency call made by one of the summer campers hiding in the bathroom of a cafe.
"There's shooting all the time, I've seen many injured. He's inside!" Renate Taarnes screamed, as 13 people in the cafe were shot dead. "He's coming ... he's coming," she said as shots could be heard in the background.
But Breivik only became tearful while watching a movie of still pictures accompanied by text of his vision of evils of "multiculturalism" and "Islamic demographic warfare".
"I think he feels sorry for himself," said Mette Yvonne Larsen, one of the lawyers representing victims. "His project didn't work out, that's why he's crying. He's not crying for the victims ... he's crying over his extremely childish film."
Heiko Junge / Pool via AFP - Getty Images
Rightwing extremist Anders Behring Breivik sheds a tear during his trial in Oslo courthouse as the court views a propaganda film he made.
The trial is scheduled to last 10 weeks and has raised fears that it could reopen wounds in Norway, a country that sees itself as a tolerant and peaceful society.
PhotoBlog: Anders Breivik in court
The "lone wolf" killer intends to say he was defending Norway against multiculturalism and Islam. He says his attacks were intended to punish "traitors" whose pro-immigration policies were adulterating Norwegian blood.
More than 200 people sat in the specially built courtroom while about 700 attack survivors and family members of victims watched on closed-circuit video around the country.
"It will be a tough time for many," survivor Vegard Groeslie Wennesland, 28, said outside the courtroom. "Last time I saw him in person he was shooting my friends."
Report: Threat from anti-jihadist extremists grows
Last July 22, Breivek set off a bomb in the centre of Oslo before heading to the youth camp on Utoeya, an island in a lake 25 miles outside the capital, gunning down his victims while police took more than an hour to get to the massacre site in the chaos that followed the bomb blast.
Disguised as a police officer, Breivik managed to lure some of his victims out of hiding, saying help had arrived. Other victims jumped into the lake, where he shot them in the water.
New details have emerged about the arrest of self-confessed Norwegian killer Anders Breivik, as well as the terror rampage left 76 people dead in the normally peaceful Scandinavian country. NBC's Martin Fletcher reports.
Prosecutor Inga Bejer Engh spoke of the "panic and mortal fear in children, youths and adults" trapped on the island.
While video footage of the Oslo bomb blast was played to the court, victims and their families cried as but Breivik smiled on several occasions.
Prosecutors painted an image of a Breivik obsessed with the "World of Warcraft" computer game, prompting the judge to ask whether the game was violent. Breivik broke into a smile when the image of his online character was displayed.
An initial psychiatric evaluation concluded that Breivik was criminally insane while a second, completed in the past week, found no evidence of psychosis. Resolving this conflict could be the five-judge panel's major decision.
If found guilty and sane, Breivik faces a maximum 21-year sentence but could be held indefinitely if he is considered a continuing danger. If declared insane, he would be held in a psychiatric institution indefinitely with periodic reviews.
Meanwhile he has made clear he intends to make use of the trial to air his views when he testifies next week.
"Your arrest will mark the initiation of the propaganda phase," he wrote in a manual for future attackers, part of a 1,500-page manifesto he posted online, according to Reuters. "Your trial offers you a stage to the world."
In a recent letter seen by Norwegian newspaper VG, Breivik added: "The court case looks like it will be a circus ... it is an absolutely unique opportunity to explain the idea of (the manifesto) to the world."
Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Leave a Comment:
Liberals here like Obama want the same thing for murderers like KSM, best to just have them slip in the shower.
And taking the liberal point of view on these matters, well its not his fault the system turned him into what he is..
He's a fascist, not a liberal. Liberals don't print manifestos and shoot children. Get your head screwed on straight.
Sebastian......He is an example of the extreme right. Don't think Liberals can't be fascist ...... Either side can be extremists.
Wrong again Valdes. All of the extremists in this country are repuke idiots like you. The abortion doctor killers, abortion clinic bombers, federal building bombers and radical right wing southern anthrax spreaders and the rest of the Klan are all radical right wing cracked teanuts.
These guys sent the 11% approved right wing cracked teanuts to congress-the worst approval rating in history. They are your facist, obstructionist, braindead idiots that must be voted out.
Hey .......thanks Hamm you just proved my point .
Just seems like the right wing extremists are always the ones solving their issues with guns and not common sense...
This guy has no regrets and confessed.....DO NOT GIVE HIM A COURTROOM PLATFORM TO SPEW HIS RABID DOG IDEOLOGIES - there is no place in our world for animals like this. He should just be taken to the same island where he killed 77 innocent people, let loose and hunted down and killed, then cut up and fed to the fishes!
They keep labeling this monster as right wing. He is a racist. He is a nazi supporter. He is a believer in Eugenics. He is not pro life. He is not a follower of Christ. He is not for following laws and morals. That does not describe right wing. Wish MSN knew how to use a dictionary...
He faces up to 21 years ? For killing 77 people ? What's that; like 3 months per life he took ? Where's the f***king justice ? I'd have a closed court so this douche doesn't get any more free publicity, and "bake" him by the end of the week.
I would expect a monster like this to emerge from the United States; sadly, we have lots of militant nut-jobs brandishing weapons and going on shooting rampages. My wife's school where she teaches had a shooting incident on campus last year. But in a country like Norway, to slaughter children in summer camp? It somehow seems even more hideous to me. It's just monstrous, and my heart sympathizes with the families of all those innocents lost.
He is one sick bastard; there is no legal punishment (in any court) adequate to this crime....
If this joker/killer wants a platform to spew his nonsense, let him do it without reporters or cameras in the courtroom. An open forum in the courtroom is not a right, the judge should make it a closed court. Without an audience the nuts of the world are silent and without purpose.
21 years in prison. This is what you get when your nation has NO Morals...This Guy is dangerous, and needs to be removed from society forever...Probably get 50 Years in prison if you shoot their national Bird.....What a whacked out country....
We let murderers go free in the United States, too (they get parole, or they get out on loopholes). How is that any different? And their nation doesn't have the rampant crime per capita that ours does. For Norway, this crime was an aberration. In the US? It's appallingly familiar.
He kills defenseless children and says he's not guilty. All of the kids must have had skittles in their pockets.
ONLY 21 years? That's a little over 3 months per victim. AND he receives a 'government pension'? Oh my gosh. They are nuts over there. I just cannot believe that they would 'let' him get away with this. LET HIM. And if they deem him criminal insane it is reasonable that one day he could get out. Just NOT right. If I were one of the parents of his victims; I am not sure I could take this.
They should have shot this POS on sight and then gave the person that shot him a medal for conduct. Why on earth even waste time and money trying this scum, take his Nazi ass out back and put a bullet in his head.
You mean to tell me there is racism in Norway, one of the happiest places on earth?
Yes, but unlike the US with it's right wing militant nutjobs, in Norway this crime was an aberration.
And you should wipe that sarcasm off your idiot mug, and bear in mind that many children died here; this is a tragedy, not an opportunity to gloat for one system over another. Show some compassion (if possible).
A maiximum of Twenty one years in prison for killing 77 people ? What the hell, just shoot the bastard sick or not !
Breivik tears up when seeing a video that he created, but is unmoved by his murderous actions. How can anyone deny that the basic intent of man is evil?
Breivik hurt the anti-Islamism movement more than anyone could possibly have done otherwise. Stuff like this makes the Islamists and leftists happy, though, because they can point their fingers and say "See, see, it the fault of Jews and Christians!". Of course, they conveniently forget that about 99% of all terrorist acts on the planet are perped by Muslims. But, hey, according to them, that's OUR fault too. So, hey, see, see! Ooooo, those 'wegians, up to 21 years for killing 77 people if he's sane, they really know how to hurt a guy, don't they? Maybe they'll give him cookies and milk and a little blankey for nappy time every day. But, sadly, it won't be long before Muslims are perpetrating similar atrocities in Norway and all over Europe on a regular basis. Breviks atrocity will seem like nothing in hindsight. Hey, don't believe me, just watch what happens.
You should change your moniker to 'Blow Hard'....
This is exactly why he did what he did...to get to put his ideology on a massive public stage. And they are just going to let him do it.
ridiculous.
Why is this P.O.S. still walking this earth? At minimum he should be in a dark, dark hole and never heard from or given publicity again until he dies.
In my opinion he gave up all civil rights by perpetrating the crimes. That being said, it's time to tie his god damn arms down and stop his in your face b.s! They can loosen them up again later when they hang him by his thumbs.
Freedom4Everyone, ok so a drop in gun violence or rather, murders by guns from prior years when they were legal, 51 murders, to 2011, 47murders, yeah, I'll say, spot on with your theory their pal. And get this, gang related murders have risen, hmmmm, wonder why that is? And another area you forgot to mention, you know, innocent people hurt in violent acts? It has risen almost 33%. As we know is fact here in American, take away the rights of the people to defend themselves and your crime will shoot through the roof. You gotta love the liberal left and even the US government however when it comes to gun control issues. They so easily compare the US to these other countries that 1st off have what? 1/10th the issues we have? How many illegals and Mexican cartel drug runners are jumping the boarders in Britain? Does MS13 have an active chapter running abroad in Britain? Doubt it, Let me ask a serious question I asked one of my sociology professors at University and get your opinion. I ask: If America were to rid all it's jails of illegals, close off it's boarders from illegals, stop the cartels by military force to send them the message while putting those feds in jail who are allowing them safe passage into the US, collect the gangs up and drop them off on a secluded Island somewhere, what do you think the violent crime in the US would them be? See, like all liberals, the professor couldn't just answer the question. He had to put in his 101 "what if's" and try to tell me what was legal and not legal etc... He didn't answer the question however because the fact is, crime would almost all but go away except for the simple fact that man will always have a lust and greed for power no matter what. You cannot stop human nature. Take away guns from those who protect themselves , family and property and then you will have police showing up to many people who have been beheaded until they outlaw swords or bladed weapons. Britain still has a very high violent crime rate so those of you reading this, don;t let the propaganda fool you, do your own research from unbiased places, not Wiki or Lord forbid some liberal anti gun site.
why don't they go ahead and kill this guy already. or at least when he lifts his arm chop it off. then see what a smart as- he will be. worst case he only lifts them twice. kill him...
Please Lord, don't tell me this lunatic is "sane"! Does anyone here really want to live in a world where "sane" people can commit this kind of crime.
Now for those of you who want him executed, I'm not sure how putting him out of his misery will "punish" him, but I have a better idea. It's time to inflict blood curdling savagery on someone like this. Declare him insane, & force him to spend the rest of his life talking to psychiatrists.
Imagine the horrror of it. Mere physical agony would be a pleasure excursion by comparison. Death would be a welcome relief.
Of course there's the danger he might be declared "cured". However one of the requirements of being cured would be a willingness to take responsibility for his actions. So at that point he would (eagerly I suspect) begin his sentence(s).
What do you think?
I think the psychiatrists would go insane trying to treat him first. A better punishment would be to send him to Afghanistan.
Uh Bobby, how will we know?
Musician - I think people can be sane but still be evil. I think he knew exactly what he was doing. This is what hate does to people, not insanity.
And yet MSNBC still finds a way to put "news" into this article that really doesn't matter. It might have if they had gone into some detail about it. But as it stands...
"appeared to smile when the court was shown a picture of his avatar from the internet game, World of Warcraft, Sky News reported"
So? Either clarify the reason for showing his WoW avatar or why the hell put it in there? Or does MSNBC hope to generate new news by getting a bunch of nutjobs a chance to say "Ah HA! World of Warcraft turns people into murderers!!!"
It's all too often anymore that there's a unrelated tidbit thrown into these articles that either need to be expanded on to be justified or that should have just been omitted in the first place.
It's a free plugfor the makers of the game. What do you want to bet MSNBC has a financial stake?
Another mass murder in the name of religion. Will we ever learn? When is this madness going to end?
Imagine there's no heaven
It's easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people living for today
Imagine there's no countries
It isn't hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people living life in peace
You, you may say
I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will be as one
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people sharing all the world
You, you may say
I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one
I hope some day you'll join us
And the world will live as one
(John Lennon-killed by a gun)
How was this murder in the name of religion? It was about the support of multiculturalism. If it was about religion don't you think he would of attacked Muslims, instead of government buildings and labor party kids?
If this mass murder had been in the name of religion there would have been a lot more bodys.
This guy is a prime specimen to study. He is delusional and paranoid yet not legally sane. Did he know the difference between right and wrong the answer is yes. Did he kill because he thought so dong would free baby Jesus from the clutches of Satan, the answer is no. He is a classic case of character pathology run amuck. Have fun with this comment for the, "kill um, nuke em gang."
If this is the type of person that they want to "save" then I would question their sanity as a society. The bigger question is why the media and MSNBC/ MSN would deify a monster like this. Putting his picture on the top of the page, looking triumphant, will only inspire genocidal & mass killers to top his stellar accomplishment by attaining at least 78 or more murders. MSNBC - think before you publish. Is this the type of future that you really want to shape? Your children may be next....
Because it is attention grabbing emotionally charged news/information and that's what news agencies do. You read it didn't you?