DETECTIVES investigating Norway's bomb attack and mass shootingare thought to be probing the suspect's possible links to theBritish far right.
Police have been examining the background of Anders Breivik, whoreportedly claimed he was recruited by two English right-wingextremists at a meeting in the UK in 2002 attended by seven otherpeople.
The 32-year-old was charged with terrorism following the blast incentral Oslo and gun attack at a youth camp on the island of Utoyaon Friday that claimed at least 93 lives. He will appear in courttoday.
Scotland Yard said it was liaising with the Norwegian authoritiesand an officer had gone to the country to help with the inquiry.
Meanwhile, David Cameron and the Government's top securityadvisers will discuss Britain's vulnerability to a Norway-styleterrorist attack when the Prime Minister chairs a meeting of theNational Security Council this morning.
As Breivik's possible ties with British extremists were explored,it emerged he had published a manifesto online on Friday railingagainst Muslim immigration to Europe and vowing revenge on"indigenous Europeans" whom he accused of betraying their heritage.He added that they would be punished for their "treasonous acts".
According to the Daily Telegraph, he identified a British mentorcalled Richard in the 1,500- page polemic.
Asked if the Norwegian police were considering possible links toBritish far-right groups, a police spokesman said: "I'm sure theywill do. They are following every lead and they're checking outeverything he might have been associated with."
It was too early to say which groups this might include, headded. But reports suggested Breivik had connections and sympathieswith the right-wing English Defence League (EDL).
The EDL denied the suspect had any links with it and said it"vehemently" opposed his actions.
In a statement on its website the group wrote: "Terrorism andextremism of any kind is never acceptable and we pride ourselves onopposing these...
"We strongly oppose extremism and always reject any suggestion ofus being either extremists or far-right, due to our great pastrecord of dealing with anyone who holds such extremist views."
Breivik's lawyer said his client had wanted to revolutioniseNorway's society and had "confessed to the factual circumstances" ofthe atrocities but denied criminal responsibility.
Geir Lippestad told Norwegian broadcaster NRK: "He wanted achange in society and, from his perspective, he needed to forcethrough a revolution. He wished to attack society and the structureof society."
It has also emerged that Breivik lived in London as a small boy,where his father was a diplomat at the Norwegian embassy.
His father Jens told Norwegian newspaper VG that they lost touchin 1995, but that it was his son who wanted to cut off contact. Hesaid he learned about the massacre on the internet.
"We've never lived together, but we had some contact in hischildhood," Mr Breivik, who VG said was now retired and living inFrance, was quoted as saying.
"I was reading online newspapers and then I suddenly saw his nameand picture on the net," he said. "It was a shock to find out."
A memorial service was held at Oslo Cathedral yesterday as thenation mourned its dead and braced itself for the number of victimsto rise still further.
King Harald, his wife Queen Sonja and Prime Minister JensStoltenberg visited grieving relatives of the young people gunneddown, while buildings around the capital lowered their flags to half-mast and people streamed to the cathedral to light candles and layflowers. Flowers and candles were also placed outside the RoyalNorwegian Embassy in London, which remained open over the weekend toprovide support to anyone who needed it, its flag flying at half-mast.
The Norwegian attacks began on Friday when a bomb exploded at ahigh-rise building in Oslo that houses the offices of the primeminister, who was not there at the time. A gunman dressed as apoliceman then opened fire on young Labour supporters at the summercamp on Utoya. More than 90 people were injured, with at least fouror five missing from the shooting incident.
Police were investigating witness accounts that there may havebeen a second gunman on the island but Breivik's lawyer said hisclient claimed no-one helped him.
It emerged yesterday that an exercise to test the UK response toa similar incident had been held recently. Sir Hugh Orde, presidentof the Association of Chief Police Officers, said the authoritiescould only do their "level best" to prevent terrorism by planningfor every scenario.
CAPTION: Clockwise from right: Anders Behring Breivik poses witha rifle; the deadly attack on the government building in Oslo citycentre; rescuers on the island where at least 86 people werekilled, and medics and emergency workers escort an injured personfrom a camp site
No comments:
Post a Comment