Killer's praise for English right-wing group emerges in internet postings

Published on Tuesday 26 July 2011 19:21

ANDERS Behring Breivik hailed the far-right English Defence League as "a blessing", it has emerged.

Only months before the bombing and shooting spree that left 76 dead, Breivik wrote online of his wish to attend English Defence League rallies and how he had visited the UK.

Anti-fascist group Searchlight said Breivik was in touch with the EDL's Norwegian counterpart, the NDL, and used the pseudonym Sigurd Jorsalfare, after the 12th century King of Norway who led one of the Crusades.

The gunman made internet postings on EDL websites, according to the group. In internet messages Breivik expressed his admiration for the EDL and said he would like to join a demonstration, Searchlight said.

Revealing he visited the Yorkshire city of Bradford, one post reads: "i've seen with my own eyes what has happened to england, i was in bradford some years ago, me and a friend walked down to the football stadium of bradford, real 'nice' neighborhood, same thing in the suburbs of london.

"Well thinking about taking a little trip over the sea and join you in a demo. would be nice with a norwegian flag alongside with union jack or the english flag, that is if a norwegian would be welcome offcourse?"

In another post on an EDL internet forum, dated 9 March this year, he wrote: "Hello. To you all good English men and women, just wanted to say that you're a blessing to all in Europe, in these dark times all of Europe are looking to you in surch of inspiration, courage and even hope that we might turn this evil trend with islamisation all across our continent.

"Well, just wanted to say keep up the good work it's good to see others that care about their country and heritage. All the best to you all Sigurd."