The lone bomber and gunman who has confessed to killing 77 persons in two terrorist attacks in Norway last month remains in full isolation at the country’s top-security prison outside Oslo, following his latest appearance in court on Friday.
Anders Behring Breivik, a 32-year-old right-wing extremist who has claimed he aimed to launch a war against Islam in Norway and Europe, complained in court on Friday that he was being subjected to “sadistic torture methods” by being held in full isolation with no access to media, fellow inmates or visitors.
Breivik is alone in his cell 23 hours a day, with contact restricted to his defense attorney, a pastor, a doctor and occasional prison staff. An Oslo judge agreed to extend his isolation for another four weeks while police continue to investigate the case against him.
His complaints about the isolation were heard but failed to convince the judge to ease the terms of his initial custody. The court hearing, like others, was held behind closed doors.
One of the attorneys for survivors of the massacre, who was allowed to be present in the courtroom, described Breivik to news bureau NTB afterwards as “completely lacking understanding of the pain and suffering he has caused others. Instead he is only preoccupied with his own situation.”
Views and News staff
