Norway: Killer in isolation as terror cells claim probed

Breivik made the chilling claim during his first court appearance following one of the worst mass killings in modern peacetime. A judge ordered him to be held in isolation for at least four weeks

Prior to the hearing Breivik, dressed in a dark red jumper, was seen smiling and looking relaxed as he was driven to the hearing by police.

The court appearance in Oslo came as police announced they had dramatically overcounted the number of people slain in the shooting spree at a political youth group's island retreat and were lowering the confirmed death toll from 86 to 68.

Meanwhile, at least 100,000 people, many carrying white or red roses, rallied in Oslo last night to show support for the victims.

Officers investigating last Friday's Oslo bomb attack and island gun massacre said the overall toll stood at 76.

Breivik will now be held for eight weeks, with the first four weeks in full isolation - with no access to visitors, newspapers or TV and radio broadcasts - as Oslo police investigate the claim he had outside help.

The prosecutor in the case says Breivik expects to spend the rest of his life in prison.

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The judge ruled that Breivik's remand hearing yesterday be held in secret, as Norwegians gathered outside the courthouse for their first glimpse of the suspect since Friday's massacre.

People hit the windows of one car that drove through the crowd before the hearing, while afterwards, as Breivik was driven away, protesters shouted "traitor" and others banged on the car shouting: "Get out, get out!"

Breivik had made clear in a chilling internet manifesto that he planned to turn his court appearance into theatre, preparing a speech even before launching the attacks, as well as requesting an open hearing in which he would wear a black uniform.

But judge Kim Heger said a public hearing would lead to an "extraordinary and very difficult situation" for police investigation, as well as creating security problems.

The judge acknowledged there was a need for transparency in the case and that he normally would consider arguments from the press when making decisions to close hearings, but he said that was not possible "for practical reasons".Speaking after the hearing, he said Breivik had pleaded not guilty, even though he confessed to bombing Oslo's government headquarters and opening fire on young people at an island retreat. He told the court he wanted to save Norway and Europe from a Muslim takeover.

The judge told the media Breivik has said in a written document that the killings were "marketing" for his belief that Europe must be saved from Muslim colonisation.

Mr Heger said: "It is clear that there is concrete information that a public hearing with the suspect present could quickly lead to an extraordinary and very difficult situation in terms of the investigation and security."

Breivik talked about two other "cells" of his network - which he imagines as a new Knights Templar, the medieval cabal of crusaders who protected Christian pilgrims in the Holy Land. At one point, his manifesto briefly referred to an intention to contact two other cells, but no details were given.

The gunman said during yesterday's hearing that his terror operation was not aimed at killing as many people as possible but that he wanted to create the greatest loss possible to Norway's governing Labour Party, which he accused of failing the country on immigration. Breivik blames liberals for championing multi-culturalism over Norway's "indigenous" culture.

The bomb in Oslo targeted buildings connected to the Labour government, and the youth camp on Utoeya island was run by the party.

An English translation of Mr Heger's version of Breivik's statement that was read out after the hearing said: "The operation was not to kill as many people as possible but to give a strong signal that could not be misunderstood that as long as the Labour Party keeps driving its ideological lie and keeps deconstructing Norwegian culture and mass importing Muslims, then they must assume responsibility for this treason."

Breivik has been charged under the criminal law for acts of terrorism. The charges include the destabilisation of vital functions of society, including government, and causing serious fear in the population.Prosecutor Christian Hatlo said police "could not completely rule out" that someone else had been involved and confirmed an investigation was under way into Breivik's claim he had worked in a cell, and that there were two other cells. He also said Breivik had been very calm at the hearing and appeared "unaffected" by events.