Confessed terror suspect held in jail

Oslo— It was supposed to be a defining moment for Norwegian terror suspect Anders Behring Breivik.

He'd hoped that the first hearing Monday into last week's twin attacks would be televised live by the world's media. He wanted to dress in a uniform to defend his actions as part of a bid to trigger an anti-Islamic revolution in Europe.

But to his disappointment, Breivik was neither seen nor heard in court. A Norwegian judge ruled the proceedings should be held behind closed doors, siding with government prosecutors who are increasingly nervous about giving the suspect a forum to expose his radical views.

Inside the courtroom, Breivik was formally charged with violating Norway's anti-terrorism laws and remanded to solitary confinement for the next four weeks.

During a news briefing after the hearing, Judge Kim Heger said Breivik confessed to the attacks — which police now say killed 76 people, revised down from previous reports of 93 — but pleaded not guilty to the terrorism charges, justifying his actions as part of an anti-Muslim campaign.

He also claimed to be working with two other cells, although previously police said he told them he worked alone.

Norwegian officials said Monday it remains unclear whether Breivik is part of a wider conspiracy or is a lone megalomaniac.

But as more is learned about Breivik — through friends, family and a 1,500-page manifesto he released on the Internet — it appears likely that he is relishing the attention now being focused on his life and ideas.

His manifesto, released shortly before Friday's mayhem, refers to the bombing in downtown Oslo and an hourlong shooting massacre at a youth political camp outing as a "marketing" tool designed to focus international attention on his extremist ideology.

"Unfortunately, I don't think he's crazy," said Peter Svaar, a childhood friend of Breivik's. "He's cold, intelligent and resourceful. He's playing us all like a piano."

Svaar, now a journalist at Norwegian broadcaster NRK, said he believes Breivik is only halfway through a carefully planned "ideological operation" to disseminate his "sick political analysis." He noted that in addition to the lengthy manifesto, Breivik also produced and released a 12-minute video now circulating on YouTube and a Facebook page that "basically serves as his press kit.

Monday’s custody hearing was closed to the press. The police had requested that it be held behind closed doors and the judge approved the request, to avoid giving Breivik a platform and, according the Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK), to prevent him from sending any signals to possible allies. The official reason, according to Irene Ram of the courthouse, was tied to security concerns and for the ongoing police investigation into the attacks and how they were carried out.

The closed hearing was also an illustration of a tradition of journalistic restraint in Norway, and was applauded by media professor Tore Slaatta at the University of Oslo. “Openness is an important principle, but this is not the day to ride on principles,” Slaatta told the website for Norway’s National Journalists’ Union NJ, journalisten.no.

“Right now it’s more important to see the realities here, that Breivik hsa a plan where he wants to continue to put himself forward as being clear and strong,” Slaatta said. “He shouldn’t be given an opportunity to do that. In this case it’s worse to let him have control, than to move away from our principles on openness.”

NRK reported that Breivik had wanted to wear some sort of military uniform to his court hearing on Monday, but wasn’t allowed to do so.

Rowdy crowd outside the courthouse

While the hearing was closed, it attracted a large gathering of media representatives and spectators outside the courthouse, which is located two blocks from the site of Friday’s bombings that heavily damaged Norway’s government complex and killed at least seven people. The crowd was rowdy, and angry.

One person shouted at Breivik’s defense attorney, Geir Lippestad, that he should tell his client “that he can burn in hell.” Another asked Lippestad “how can you defend him?” Lippestad was clearly uncomfortable as he arrived at the courthouse, according to NRK.

Norway has no death penalty so Breivik faces Norway’s maximum prison term of 21 years, but he may also be sentenced to what’s called “forvaring,” or protective custody, which can keep him locked up for the rest of his life. Forvaring is used in cases of particularly heinous crimes or when the defendant is psychologically unstable.

Breivik’s defense attorney, who said he took on the case because it’s an important democratic principle to have the right to a fair trial, already has called for a medical examination of Breivik and questioned whether he’s mentally fit to stand trial.