Breivik, who is now 42, received the then-current maximum sentence in Norway in 2012 for his actions, 21 years. That period can be extended indefinitely if the court finds that it still poses a danger. He may also request parole after ten years. For security reasons, the three-day session will take place in the gymnasium of the prison where he is staying, in Skien, 100 kilometers southwest of Oslo.
Breivik seems to see the trial primarily as an opportunity to once again draw attention to his extreme right-wing ideology. Immediately upon entering, he gave the Hitler salute. He also carried various extremist messages on his bag and jacket. After a while, the judge ordered him to put away the papers. “I don’t want to see any more of this when the prosecutor is speaking,” said Judge Dag Bjoervik.
Breivik showed no regrets and explained in an hour-long speech that his extreme nationalist ideas are still very much alive, but that he has renounced violence. “I distance myself from violence and terrorism,” he told the judge. “I give you my word of honor that this is behind me forever.”
77 dead
Breivik detonated a car bomb outside a government building in Oslo on July 22, 2011, killing eight people. He then traveled disguised as a police officer to the island of Utoya, where a youth camp of the Norwegian Workers’ Party was held. The Norwegian killed 69 people, mostly teenagers.
He was convicted of terrorism in 2012. Breivik said he did not recognize the court and did not appeal. He also said he regretted not killing more.
Now the Norwegian reported that he had been radicalized online at the time by a network of right-wing extremists. “I was brainwashed,” Breivik said. “The order was to bring back the Third Reich. How, each soldier had to decide for himself.’ Breivik said he would continue to fight for Nazi ideology, but only by peaceful means. He also offered the judge to live as a free man in the Arctic region or in a non-Western country.
Unbelievable
According to experts, the chance that he will be released early is nil. The psychiatrist who examined him, Randi Rosenqvist, has already told Norwegian media that, according to her, Breivik has essentially not changed since the last evaluation in late 2016. Then the psychiatrist warned that the terrorist cannot be believed if he claims to be non-violent. .
In addition, Breivik has never regretted his actions. “A person who wants to be released early should at least repent and show that he understands why what he did was wrong.”
There were fears among relatives that Breivik would use this week’s trial to spread his ideas. “The only thing I fear is that he can speak freely and share his extremist ideas with like-minded people,” said Lisbeth Kristine Røyneland, chair of a group for bereaved families and survivors of the attacks. “I think it’s quite absurd that he can generate so much attention by requesting parole after ten years,” said Røyneland, who herself lost her 18-year-old daughter on Utøya.
Breivik spent the past ten years dead in solitary detention. He did manage to correspond with other extremists in Europe and the United States. His act inspired other terrorists, including the man who killed 51 Muslims in 2019 in New Zealand’s Christchurch in attacks on two mosques.
Prosecutor Hulda Karlsdottir argued on Tuesday that the early release of Breivik, who changed his name to Fjotolf Hansen in 2017, would pose a grave danger. In her speech, she once again referred to all victims by name. The verdict is expected this month. If Breivik’s request is denied, he can try again in a year.