Anders Behring Breivik

Anders Behring Breivik, born on February 13, 1979, is a notorious figure in Norwegian history, known for his heinous acts as a mass murderer and domestic terrorist. He gained infamy for the 2011 Norway attacks, where he sought to combat what he termed 'Cultural Marxism' through a devastating car bomb in Oslo and a mass shooting on the island of Utøya. Breivik's actions were fueled by his belief in the Great Replacement theory, which posits a conspiracy against European culture.

Before his descent into violence, Breivik had a troubled youth marked by early brushes with the law, including an arrest at the age of 16 for vandalism. His political journey began at the age of 20 when he joined the anti-immigration Progress Party, eventually chairing its local youth branch in Vest Oslo. However, his political career was short-lived, as he left the party in 2006. Financially, he struggled, with no declared income in 2009 and assets amounting to three hundred ninety thousand kroner, while he financed his attacks with a staggering one hundred thirty thousand euros through multiple credit cards.

Breivik's trial in 2012 revealed the complexities of his mental state. Initially diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, a subsequent evaluation determined he was not psychotic during the attacks but exhibited traits of narcissistic and antisocial personality disorders. He was found guilty on all charges and sentenced to the maximum civilian penalty in Norway, which is twenty-one years of imprisonment, with the possibility of extensions as long as he is deemed a threat to society.

In the years following his conviction, Breivik has engaged in numerous legal battles, claiming violations of his human rights due to solitary confinement and the denial of parole. His attempts to challenge his treatment have included appeals to the European Convention on Human Rights. In December 2024, he initiated a five-day trial against the Government of Norway, alleging further human rights violations stemming from his isolation in prison.