Anders Behring Breivik (2nd L) arrives in court for the first day of his parole hearing at the Ringerike, Asker and Berum District Court on 19 November 2024 at Ringerike Prison in Tyristrand, Norway.Photo: New York Post.
Anders Breivik, convicted of the deadliest terrorist attack in Norwegian history, once again attracted international attention during his parole hearing in Ringerike prison. Breivik, who was sentenced to 21 years in 2011 for the attack that killed 77 people, including many teenagers, made a new statement that caused widespread outrage. This was reported by the TimeUkraineIsrael portal with reference to Israelinfo.
During the hearing, Breivik claimed that he no longer supported violent methods and was even ready to convince his supporters to abandon aggression if he was allowed to be released. However, when asked by the judge whether he condemned his previous actions, Breivik said he considered them “necessary” from the point of view of right-wing radicals. He stated: “I take responsibility for the pain I have caused and I apologise to the victims, but I cannot condemn my actions, just as NATO does not condemn its previous actions.”
The terrorist demonstrated his support for the “axis of evil” – Russia, Iran, China and North Korea. He arrived at the meeting with the letter “Z” shaved on his head, which has become a symbol of Russian aggression in Ukraine, and displayed a poster supporting the political regimes of these countries. On the poster, Breivik stated that “European nations have been deprived of their territories” and suggested that camps for “conservative refugees” should be set up in cities such as St Petersburg, Tehran, Shanghai and Pyongyang.
The prosecutor’s unchanged views and concerns
Prosecutor Hulda Karlsdottir stressed that Breivik’s radical ideology remains unchanged. She stated: “His political ideology remains the same, and his calls for radical change in society have not disappeared.” The prosecution insists that this makes him a serious threat to society. Relatives of the victims present at the trial also expressed fears of possible future crimes, noting that there is a high probability that he may resort to violence again.
Breivik also stated that he was ready to leave Norway if he was allowed to leave, and even promised to cooperate with the authorities to fight extremism if given the opportunity.
Defence insists on the need for rehabilitation
Breivik’s lawyer, Eystein Storvik, stressed that during the 12 years of his imprisonment, his client was in almost complete isolation, without the possibility of rehabilitation and socialisation. “Special programmes are required for rehabilitation and deradicalisation, but over the years he has been denied social contact,” the defence lawyer said.
The court’s decision on Breivik’s possible release will be announced later. The last time, in 2022, his request was rejected due to his unchanged radical beliefs, which, according to the court, have remained since the terrorist attack.
