Norwegian prison officials have decided to temporarily move mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik from his triple cell unit at the high security Ila prison outside of Oslo, for what they call routine security reasons.
Corrections director Jan Erik Sandlie confirmed to Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) on Monday that prison officials had decided in June to move Breivik to another high-security prison in Skien. Sandlie claimed that “especially demanding” prisoners are regularly moved among various prison facilities in Norway, even though the special three-cell unit with exercise equipment was built at great expense to house Breivik at Ila because he can’t share facilities with other prisoners out of concern for his own safety.
Breivik, who killed 77 persons in twin attacks on July 22, 2011, has earlier complained about his prison conditions and Sandlie acknowledged that Breivik has asked to be moved several times, “but that’s not why he’s now being moved.” The director of Ila Prison, Knut Bjarkeid, also called the move “ordinary” and part of security routines.
A representative for prison guards at Ila said it would ease their workdays to not have to deal with the extraordinary security conditions around Breivik, who also wants to study political science through the University of Oslo. Prisoners have a right to study in Norway, but Breivik’s application is controversial and under review.
newsinenglish.no staff
