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Norway Attacks: Uncovering Anders Behring Breivik

Kate Rooney |
July 26, 2011 | 7:41 p.m. PDT

Executive Producer

 

This polarizing image of Breivik from his website has become ubiquitous in news stories about the gunman. (Wikimedia Commons)
This polarizing image of Breivik from his website has become ubiquitous in news stories about the gunman. (Wikimedia Commons)
With Norway still reeling from two attacks that left at least 76 people dead in Oslo and nearby Utoya Island, information about suspected attacker Anders Behring Breivik is pouring in at an astounding rate.

Since Breivik admitted to both the explosion in Oslo and shooting spree in Utoya during a court appearance Monday authorities, media and survivors alike have been struggling to determine just what the 32-year-old to carry out this bloodbath, and how he managed to accomplish it.

Anti-Islam Connection

In Breivik’s now-infamous manifesto, he claimed to have been inspired by the words of Dutch politician Geert Wilders, is best known as an anti-Islam crusader. Breivik also expressed disgust with Norway’s immigration policies, which he believes are too lax. In the manifesto, he wrote that his attacks were “atrocious” but necessary to quell the spreading of both immigration and Islam, according to Reuters.

Wilders, meanwhile, has denounced Breivik’s actions as “sick.”

Video Games

After Breivik’s identity was uncovered, it was quickly revealed that the native Norweigan is an avid online gamer. Now fellow “Call of Duty” and “World of Warcraft” aficionado Jeron Rink has come forward with an email in which he says Breivik revealed details of his plan for attack, The Telegraph reported Tuesday.

When Breivik discovered he and Rink were both fans of Wilders, who is know for his anti-Islam crusade, Breivik sent his manifesto to Rink.  The manifesto includes a portion citing a “Call of Duty” game as “more a part of my [military] training-simulation than anything else. 

Additional Weapons

Norweigan authorities announced Tuesday they had detonated a “cache” of explosives found a farm leased by Breivik. 

Though authorities wouldn’t describe the types of explosives they found, they did explain they believed detonation a safer action than attempting to move the collection.

Breivik leased the farm under the pretense of growing his own vegetables, but Norweigan media have suggested it may have been a cover to buy mass quantities of chemical fertilizer, a key ingredient in homemade bomb making, without drawing suspicion.

Father Speaks Out

In an interview with Norweigan television station TV2, the gunman’s father admitted he was ashamed of his son and expressed the sentiment that it might have been better for the younger Breivik to take his own life rather than those of so many strangers.

Breivik Sr. told the reporter that although he hasn’t had contact with his son since 1995, he plans to exile himself from Norway.

Watch the interview the Breivik’s father below:

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