A NORWEGIAN court has ruled that bomb and gun attack suspect Anders Behring Breivik will be held in solitary confinement for a further four weeks.
Breivik, 32, has already spent a month in isolation. The judge who originally ordered his detention had given authorities permission to hold him for eight weeks, with just half of that time designated for solitary confinement.
Today, Judge Hugo Abselseth acknowledged that Breivik had described his detention as “boring and monotonous, and a sadistic torture method”, but said that the isolation period would be extended. Breivik is not allowed any visitors, bar his lawyer. The court ruled that “there is a considerable likelihood that he has a realistic opportunity” of tampering with evidence if he is not held in solitary confinement.
He is due in court again on 19 September.
Breivik has admitted carrying out the attacks, but denies criminal responsibility. Eight people were killed when a bomb exploded outside government offices in Oslo and, within hours, 69 people were shot dead on Utoya island.
Prosecutor Paal-Fredrik Jhort Kraby told the AP that the authorities don’t want him to communicate with people outside the prison.
Despite Breivik indicating in early police interrogation that he was associated with two ‘cells’, police have found no evidence he was aided in the attacks and they believe he acted alone. Breivik was arrested on Utoya during the attack on 22 July.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg is planning to visit Utoya island with survivors of the attack tomorrow. He said he will be there “as a friend, as a prime minister.” A special event commemorating the victims will be held in Oslo on Sunday.
- Additional reporting by the AP
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