Breivik gives Nazi salute as human rights case starts

Anders Behring Breivik, the right-wing extremist who killed 77 people in bomb and gun attacks in 2011, made a Nazi salute as he arrived in court for his human rights case against the Norwegian government.

As soon as prison guards removed his handcuffs, the 37-year-old turned to journalists and stretched out his right arm in a Nazi salute.

Breivik is suing the government, alleging it has violated the European Convention on Human Rights by holding him in isolation in Skien prison, about 90 kilometres south-west of Oslo.

The trial is being held in a gym inside the prison for security reasons.

Breivik set off a bomb in Oslo’s government district and then carried out a shooting massacre at the summer camp of the Labour Party’s youth organisation.

It is the first time shaven-headed Breivik has been seen in public since he was convicted of terrorism and mass murder in 2012, over the massacres on July 22, 2011.

The government has rejected his claims, saying he is being treated humanely.

During his criminal trial four years ago, Breivik entered the court with his own salute, using a clenched fist instead of the outstretched hand that the Nazis used to greet Adolf Hitler. At the time Breivik described himself as a modern crusader, fighting to protect Europe from Muslim immigration.

In letters sent to the media from prison, Breivik said he has abandoned his armed struggle and now wants to create a fascist movement while serving his sentence.

His lawyer, Oystein Storrvik, said the goal of the human rights case is to improve Breivik’s prison conditions, including interaction with other prisoners and fewer restrictions on his mail correspondence.