Anders Breivik tricked his way aboard ferry en route to Utoya, court hears

WITNESSES have told a court how mass murderer Anders Breivik – armed and wearing police uniform – managed to trick his way on to a ferry bound for the Norwegian island where he massacred 69 people.

• Breivik admits to a bombing in Oslo’s government district and shooting massacre at a youth camp on Utoya.

• Victim tells his tragic story in court as evidence is given by various witnesses to the shootings.

• Court decides whether to declare Breivik as clinically insane or to imprison him for 21 years.

Jon Olson, captain of the ferry Thorbjoern, told Oslo’s District Court yesterday about his “angst and full panic” as he frantically tried to contact police about the shooting spree after his ferry had docked at Utoya.

Just hours before the massacre, Breivik had killed eight people in a bomb attack in Oslo’s government district. Mr Olson, who lost his partner, Monica Boesei, the second person to die in the shootings, said neither he nor his crew suspected the uniform-clad Breivik to be anything other than a police officer who had come to tell them about the Oslo attack.

Other witnesses said the same. Simen Braenden Mortensen, a Labour Party youth member, told the court that Breivik said he had been sent to inform the youths on Utoya about the Oslo terror attack. “He was carrying weapons. We don’t see that every day in Norway,” Mr Mortensen said.

Breivik has admitted theOslo bombing and the subsequent shootings at a Labour Party youth camp on the island of Utoya. He claims the attacks, on 22 July, were “necessary” and that the 77 victims had betrayed Norway by embracing immigration.

Breivik boarded the ferry about two hours after setting off the bomb, together with Ms Boesei and other passengers.

Mr Olson calmly told the court how he saw Breivik open fire on the island on to which his partner had just disembarked.

“I don’t remember if I saw him shooting Monica, but I think I did,” he said.

Their two daughters lost a mother in the attacks, the court heard, and Mr Olson said 11-year-old Victoria still regularly cries herself to sleep.

Breivik, dressed in a black suit and gray tie, showed no emotion as Mr Olson gave his evidence a few yards away. He barely moved in his chair during the six-hour session as witnesses and police gave evidence on the 11th day of the terror trial. Occasionally, he poured himself a glass of water.

Witnesses described Breivik as composed and behaving normally even as he arrived directly from the devastating car-bomb attack in Oslo.

Investigating officers told how the heavily armed killer shot his victims, beginning with a security official on the island and then 68 others, mostly the young.

Breivik’s weapons included a Ruger Mini-14 Ranch rifle, equipped with a bayonet, a Glock pistol and more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition. He was also carrying a gas mask, a tourniquet, flashlight and three chocolate bars when he arrived on the island, police said.

In earlier court sessions, Breivik has coldly described the meticulously planned attacks in detail.

Since he has admitted his actions, Breivik’s mental state is the key issue for the trial to resolve. If found guilty and sane, he would face 21 years in prison, although he can be held longer if deemed a danger to society.

If declared insane, he would be committed to compulsory psychiatric care.

Breivik has said that being declared insane would be the worst thing that could happen to him because it would “delegitimise” his views.