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2011: The nation looks to rally after a bombing and shooting spree leaves 77 people dead.
OSLO, Norway -- Norwegian authorities could have prevented or interrupted the bomb and gun attacks by a far-right fanatic that killed 77 people last year, a government appointed commission said Monday.
The long-awaited report into the July 22, 2011, attacks also said the domestic intelligence service could have done more to track down the gunman, but stopped short of saying it could have stopped him.
Anders Behring Breivik, 33, has admitted to the bombing of the government's headquarters in Oslo, which killed eight people, and the subsequent shooting spree at a youth camp that left 69 dead, more than half of them teenagers. He is currently awaiting sentencing.
Bombing 'could have been prevented,' report finds
While noting that the attacks "may be the most shocking and incomprehensible acts ever experienced in Norway," the 500-page report said the bombing "could have been prevented" if already adopted security measures had been implemented more effectively.
Breivik was able to park a van with a fertilizer bomb just outside the high-rise before he drove another car to the Labor Party's youth camp on Utoya, unhindered.
The report said that a car bomb "at the government complex and several coordinated attacks have been recurring scenarios in threat assessments as well as for safety analyses and exercise scenarios for many years."
Anders Breivik: I was motivated by goodness and 'would have done it again'
Police blunders
The police response was also slowed down by a series of blunders, including flaws in communication systems and the breakdown of an overloaded boat carrying a police anti-terror unit. Meanwhile, Norway's only police helicopter was left unused, its crew on vacation. Breivik's shooting spree lasted for more than one hour before he surrendered to police.
Norway massacre: Nation remembers victims one year later
The report said that a faster police response could have stopped Breivik's shooting spree earlier, but recognized that "hardly anyone could have imagined" the secondary attack on Utoya.
"Sadly, however, after repeated school massacres in other countries, an armed desperado who shoots adolescents is indeed conceivable — also in Norway," it added.
Lawyers for Anders Behring Breivik warned Norwegians would find his statement to the Court upsetting. Breivik spoke of carrying out "the most spectacular and sophisticated attack on Europe since World War II." During his statement, Breivik showed no remorse and made no admission of guilt. ITN's Paul Davies reports.
Though Breivik has admitted the attacks, he rejected criminal guilt during his trial, saying his victims had betrayed their country by embracing a multicultural society.
Prosecutors have said there were doubts about his sanity and suggested Breivik be committed to compulsory psychiatric care instead of prison. A ruling is set for Aug. 24.
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Leave a Comment:
I would support putting him into psychiatric care. His refusal to admit guilt even though he knows he committed the crime makes it pretty obvious.
Also, prison systems rarely help to change anyone. Psychiatric care is more likely to get him to see why he was wrong.
Are you crazy? After you've done something like this, there is no use in you living anymore. You already made up your mind when you picked up that gun and went on your shooting spree. I would say throw him in the lion's den & see how tough he really is. It makes no sense at all to have this man living. :(
The motto Moar is Crime & PUNISHMENT. Not Crime & rehabilitation. The only purpose keeping this lunatic alive is to study his mind to add to the database and after that keep him in an insane asylum the rest of his days under heavy sedation.
This was a wake up call to the more sedate societies like Norway that yes....it can happen anywhere. Trust they will at least have the helicopter manned 24-7 after this and will likely add more.
This person is not mentally ill, he is a vile, vicious sadistic monster. I truely believe he thinks he is God and has the right to judge, convict and execute anyone who believes different than him. While he gets to voice his reasons for his actions to the court, that is something he never gave his victims the opportunity to do. The Norwegian should have never let him have a say and by letting him do so means he wins again. So sad for the families.
Can you imagine if he lived in the USA and how many people he would have killed here cause he doesn't believe in multicultural nations? This monster is pathetic and we can't even classify him as human cause there is nothing humane about him! I say put him in a town square and let the families (if they so wish) use him as target practice. We need to rid society of monsters like him!
Mcookies, no, you are wrong. Neither the prison nor the Psychiatric community effectively rehabilitates this level (or any level in my opinion) of criminal. Since there is no recorded adjustments to the methods of law enforcement after "studying" the mind of these murderers, rapists, robbers and career criminals, it is a waste of time and money.
Society has rights too. This criminal pacifism and coddling treatment of such criminals is a crime against society. You know, the prison knows and the psychiatrist knows that if they are let out, they will re-offend in almost every case. Pretending it is immoral against one person to execute them but pretending it is not immoral to let them out to commit crimes against multiple persons is not fooling anyone but yourself.
We have the right to not have them running around in our midst looking for their next victims. Whether you like it or not. I hope they come to live with you when they are let out, and they do get let out with alarming frequency.
The right wing hacks wanna fry the right wing lunatic. Ironic.
I think you claim about treatment would need a better understanding of Norway's prison and psychiatric systems. I highly doubt prison is going to be the hell hole we have and as far as rehabilitation, I am positive he will get in either place. We are the only 'civilized' country that thinks prisoners aren't human, too dumb to realize those 'animals' will more than likely be walking in society at some point.
I agree he is no more mentally ill than anyone indoctrinated into Terrorist soultions towards "the Other". He feels great that he could accomplish this Deed for his group of Nazis. Just like Islamic suicide bombers, Christian soldiers marching off to war or the more subtle Christian & Islamic Campaigns to Convert the world or you'll be sent to Hell. He is indoctrinated not insane. But to allow a Nazi group to grow in any free country is a disaster waiting to happen. Why we allow it in America is the greatest mystery for me. No one has the freedom to exterminate "others" because of race, religion, or sexual orientation. Its so totally antiAmerica its beyond belief. And we allow it to congregate. Protect their rallys and parades. How dumb are we? Its so much worse than we see on our superficial level of life. We allow it to fester and grow. These are antiAmerican doctrine and concepts. Its as bad as training Afghan soldiers to shoot us and selling them weapons. And Homeland Security in the US is more prepared to handle our own Nazi White Supremists than Norway was.
What??? You think all hate crimes should be treated as psychiatric disorders? The guy's a white supremacist.... even Jesus can't cure him as most of these guys are motivated by their faith too.
Holy smokes, the three stoogers could have reacted faster and better; Norway is such a peaceful land, they were not prepared for a lunatic on a killing spree. the one police officer on the island, did not even have a firearm.
To let this guy off on a psychiatric defense is absurd. He may have some very extreme ideas, but he is far from being insane. He sits there and rationally states his case for why he did what he did. This is not the actions of someone who is insane, he is fully aware of what he has done and feels perfectly justified in doing it. This is a sick individual, but not someone who is clinically insane by any definition of the term.
By your logic everyone that commits a crime and then denies it was wrong to do so is psych-ward material? I feel a new defense strategy warming up in the wings to be used time and time again with great success -- in Norway.
Who else in history has come up with such a defense? Let me think... Khubla Khan, Hitler, Stalin, and a host of others.
How exactly will a government sanctioned killing change what happened? Yes, Stalin said "Death solves all problems, no man, no problem", but that doesn't really work out in practice when the underlying problem (fear of multiculturalism/violent action to get a message across) is bigger than one man.
I feel like there's more focus on taking revenge on enemies, and not enough focus on convincing people that something is wrong. This shooter, and every other potential assault rifle wielding psycho out there, needs to know that killing is never a good solution to any problem.
Think about it: If they just shot him after he admitted the action, he could become a martyr for the anti-multiculturalism movement. There wouldn't be a negative connotation associated with going on a killing spree, much like how there isn't a negative connotation associated with suicide bombers in radical Islamic groups. On the other hand, if we show just how stupid he is, get him to admit he was wrong, and get him to tell others not to follow his path, we win on all accounts.
Also, I support making him work while in jail/psychiatric care - no one should get free food/housing.
I don't think he is insane. I think he is a sane person who has taken a political stance to a horrible extreme. He is no more mentally insane than a KKK racist is who murders a black man. This type of conviction may change with time and education. but at best, you might get an "I'm sorry" out of him.
It's not like he heard God's voice telling him all the kids were spawn of Satan and must be destroyed to save the Earth for the Second Coming.... He "answered" the call to action that many political groups spout.
While he may have believed he was acting in the best interests of his country, it was a belief founded on hate and political agenda.
I think it better to use the right label and hold him accountable than to just write it off and say he was "crazy".
To use your example, it would be like a racist murdering a bunch of white kids because they are attending an integrated school. None of which is really their doing. And that is nutz, sane people do not have those thoughts, much less carry out a plan to teach them a lesson. It doesn't seem like killing Muslims every crossed his mind.
And not to be picky, but what political group calls for the killing of kids of their own race ? Had he killed Muslims your point would be valid, but he didn't.
Scott, think you need to re-read your post. So, terrorism is insanity if you are not Muslim? Is that your point? His actions may appear to be irrational, but you need to look at his intent. Kidnap victims have sympathy for thier kidnapers. That is his intented influence over society as well, same as any terrorist.
He killed people because they supported allowing others from different cultures into their society. He isn't directly attacking the groups coming in, but attacking the supporters of allowing different cultures isn't too far off. Either way, he was still killing because he disliked multiculturalism.
Whether he's insane depends on which definition you use, but killing to make a point is clearly irrational. IMO, the best course of action would be to show everyone (especially his supporters) that his action was idiotic, ineffective, and not worth repeating.
The police in Norway are certainly skilled at dishing out speeding tickets that cost hundreds of dollars. They need to focus more effort elsewhere.
While it seems undoubtedly true that they need to beef up the deployment capability of their anti-terrorist unit it's also important to keep a little perspective as well. Norway has very low rates of violent crime and is in reality an unlikely target for further terrorist attacks. For them to over-react to what seems to be a random act of a lone madman and develop a siege mentality for the tiny bit of added security it would give would be a mistake.
Norway mishandled it, and they are still mishandling his incarceration. He seems to have been elevated to the level of fame and prissy treatment that rock stars get.
True Norway has low rates of crime. Lack of minorities is part of that, and the general lackadaisical outlook on criminals (because they have few and haven't learned to respond) is another factory. But..."overreact"? I don't think one can view the ineffective response during the crimes, and the inappropriate treatment of the criminal as a responsible reaction at all. A "seige mentality"? Would knowing the dissidents in their midst have been an over-reaction? Would questioning a van that turned out to be filled with explosives, and having it opened to investigate have been an over-reaction?
All you "let's just hand them a flower" people have to understand, your methods do not work. They've been tried, and they have failed resoundingly in every society that has tried them. You are quick to cluck your tongues at people's outrage and calls for increased law enforcement effort...but...how about questioning the wisdom of hanging your heads and not challenging danger? You "easy targets" would be the first to be mowed down by anyone with a more aggressive outlook and criminal behavior in mind.
"Tiny bit of added security". Whatever the current level of virtually NO security is, don't think it has gone unnoticed in the world. I have a tiny bit of added security in my house. My neighbor does not. If a burglar, a home invasion party or armed psycho arrive in the neighborhood, they will go for my neighbor first, and they will have whatever they want because he can't and won't resist.
I'm hoping they try my house instead. I like my neighbor, and I'd hate to see him harmed. But unlike him, I will meet invasion with armed, practiced and effective resistance. There is no possible way I will end up as bad off as my neighbor would. But the criminals will pay the price of their behavior, win or lose.
You are irony impaired I see. You do realize that your low amount of minority is the reason for less crime is EXACTLY the gunmans justification for the shooting. There are much lower crime rates than the US in many places with a very high number of immigrants like Canada and Australia. Of course, they should have a minimum response team (they didn't in this case), but the no one could have predicted this amount of insane violence for basically political motives (which makes in domestic terrorism).
Atcually, the country didn't believe they had to prepare for this type of thing. They didn't accept they had a problem with Nazis, just like the USA.
"All you "let's just hand them a flower" people have to understand, your methods do not work."
So in the U.S. we accept a firearm related homicide rate that is over 13 times the rate that it is in Norway and gun-related accidental death rate that is double what theirs is, year after year after year. Yes, it's truly remarkable how much "safer" our approach to violent crime has made us.
Switzerland has one of the lowest or may be the lowest murder rate in the civilizes world why not follow their lead?? They ISSUE a GUN to every adult citizen..and it WORKS!!!
LettyLane, Issuing a gun to everyone will not make me feel safe. On the contrary it will make me more afraid. And how will issuing a gun to a lunatic make the world safer? I to can have a gun but until I can read what is in that persons head at the moment I still would not have any control over that person opening fire. By then I could be dead and me having a weapon on me did nothing, but the lunatic having a weapon cost me my life. No thanks. Better to keep guns out of the hands of evil and sadistic monsters.
They "could have done more". No kidding?!
Breivek's rampage went on for a criminally long time. He was running out of people to shoot before running into police. Absolutely unacceptable that a large group of hundreds of young people could be victimized in such a way with no thought or preparation by security and police to intervene in the event of an emergency. All seniors officials involved should hang their heads, tender their resignations, or be fired.
And the notion that no one could have expected simultaneously or sequential attacks is an absurd dereliction of duty. Any person tracking the news that past decade has been given countless examples of just that type of terrrorist tactic. Any kind of scenario planning that ommitted these kinds of attacks is this day and age is malfeasance of the highest order.
That the officials in Norway responsible for planning emergency response and mitigation strategies and capabilities failed epically to ensure capacity for rapid response to multiple emergencies should be a matter of utmost concern to that countries citizens.
Heads should roll. At a minimum.
...Like all who kill innocents, this clown has "a wheel off the ground..." But in civilized countries the standard is higher than that... higher than neurosis... The line is drawn at: Did he actually know what he was doing (not throwing flowers)? Did he know that (whatever *he* thought of his justifications) society viewed this as wrong? Did he know that he could be punished for what he was doing? Did he take rational steps to further his crime...?
...The above marks the difference between "sanity" and insanity... If a society wants to change the definition from the above to merely "being maladjusted" then they can. But while truly insane people are rarely cured... those who have a lesser impairment are likely by doctors to one day be declared fit to rejoin society... "You go back, Jack... do it again..."
This Man is not crazy ...... He's simply a radical extremest who want society to be shaped in his image!
And they are everywhere ... Rightist, leftist ..... Muslim, Christian, Jews.. you can't make laws or have security to save us from this type of event ... it's just numbers .. feed by concerted eduction in that direction .. giving up your individual rights for state protection .. does nothing.
It doesn't really matter if you put them to death ... their act of desperation, has accomplished their purpose .. and given them the satisfaction of completion of task ...
Respectfully .. as the Christians persecutions (50 AD to 300 AD) did. And Christians (mostly Gnostics) by giving their life in the Roman Circus as people laughed ...
Anti Terrorism is just a buzz word to give governments a excuse to rid the world of opponents .. and has little real value ... except to get you to give up your legitimate human rights without a fight ...
Who ever gave all the chopper pilots off at the same time needs canned...A sniper on the chopper could have taken him out fast...but then I do not know do they have a trained sniper in La La land...
It is a real shame that the officials in Norway were not more prepared than this. While the violent crime rates are relatively low in the Scandinavian countries they still need to be prepared & face the reality of the world we live in today.
Norway was caught off guard with this incident but I'm sure they are now better prepared if anything like this should happen again.
Their only police helicopter was down because the only crew that could fly it were on vacation? Guess it is just for show if they don't staff it properly.
Hopefully, lessons will be learned and implemented...and not just by the Norwegians.
Brevik has a lot of cahones to claim he isn't guilty, even though he admitted to the crime. He is no more mentally ill than the Nazis, or the Communists, who used that same twisted logic to kill millions of people. He doesn't need to be locked in a psych ward...he should either be executed, or imprisoned for life, no privileges. His victims didn't even get the benefit of a trial...why should he get the benefit of still breathing?
The report is on 'regular' Norwegian Police- not Security Police (Sapo). After the bomb blast in downtown Oslo- ONE eyewitness described Anders Behring Breivik and his parked van. Then the police had a leaking boat-whose motor died in the middle and the were brought tyo Utoya by a tourist boat- the police boat was also overladen causing it to be slower. According to Verdens Gang newspaper the police went first to a wrong island Geitoya closer to shore. ABB killed 20 people in the last 20 minutes bwefore apprehended- the police force was at least 12 minutes late on afore mentioned facts. Criminal police could have arrested Breivik based on his semiautomatic guns' purchases- chemical purchases (like US-Oklahoma bomber Timothy McVeigh). Anyone who as a kid went to a summer camp- there were adults and an all night scout teams (4 hr shifts) with German shepherds- on an island- immediate alert in case someone had come on a boat. Norway's communications system did not work- no alert to any specific groups and no self alert by any of the camping groups either. So many innocents lost their lives unnecessari;ly- if Breivik's mother had informed on her son- if authorities had questioned him- if safety measures (no parking in old town/g'ment ctr) had been in place. If the police had alerted Sapo/military.
If my grandmother had wheels she would be a bus !
It's funny how hindsight is always 20-20.
Maybe this Killer just got done reading a “Sarah Palin” book….became Confused, Irrational and Lost his Mind. It seems to be a “Side Effect”.
You BetCha….Fer Sure.
Take guns away from civilians its the only way there is no reason a civilian needs a gun
Let's face it, Norden has some of the most hapless and under-prepared police forces in the world -- namely because they blithely assume that members of their own society would never commit unspeakable acts and crimes against fellow citizens; and yet numerous Nordic governmental commissions review this ignorant assumption every time an unspeakable act is perpetrated by one of their own citizens (e.g. Olof Palme assassination). Add to this garden variety Scandinavian indolence and there you have it.
Yes Scandinavian police are nothing like the American police. Most of them don’t even carry a gun. But then again there is very rarely the need for them to stop the once in a lifetime rare psychopath. In America, crazy psychopaths with guns are practically a daily event. Nor do the police Taser grandmothers for minor traffic violations or throw handcuffs on a small child or ever get accused of brutalizing anyone for any reason. As a friend from Finland’s grandfather said when he came to America: “The police here remind me of Europe. In the 1930’s when the Nazis occupied Holland. Except the Nazis weren’t as trigger happy and they didn’t become unhinged at every minor event.”
I think the Scandinavians prefer their peaceful, unprepared police force.
Thanks for asking.