20/11/24
Norwegian terrorist attends parole hearing with Russian-style ‘Z’ cut into hair
Anders Breivik appeared at a prison parole hearing on Tuesday with his hair styled into a pro-Russian symbol.
The Norwegian terrorist arrived at a makeshift courtroom in Ringerike jail in Tyristrand, Norway, with a patch of hair above his right ear shaved into the letter Z.
“Z” is commonly painted on Russian military vehicles in Ukraine and has become a symbol of support for Vladimir Putin’s war.
In a rambling statement to the court, the Right-wing extremist described Putin as “the foremost defender of Europeans globally” and held up a handmade poster expressing support for Russia as well as for China, Iran and North Korea.
Breivik, 45, who killed 77 people in a terror attack in 2011, has been held in isolation since being given a 21-year sentence in 2012.
He is seeking parole for a second time, a request that is widely expected to be refused.
Addressing reporters outside the court, Breivik said he would be a “tremendous help to the Norwegian state” if he were released early.
He later said that the judges would not regret releasing him and that granting him parole would be the “last chance to give the far-Right pity”.
Under Norwegian law, a prisoner can apply for parole once a year after spending 10 years in prison.
Hulda Karlsdottir, prosecuting, told the court he should not be released, arguing that he would be a risk to the public.
“Is there a danger Breivik will commit crimes against life and health again? The danger is real,” she said.
A risk assessment found the risk of Breivik being violent again remained the same as before, she added.
In February, a judge ruled against Breivik after he attempted to end his prison isolation by arguing it violated his human rights.
Breivik threatened to go on hunger strike in 2014 unless the prison provided him with better video games.
The terrorist’s 2011 rampage was the worst mass killing in Norway since the Second World War.
He killed eight people in a bombing of a government building in Oslo before gunning down 69 others, mostly teenagers, at a Norwegian Labour Party youth camp.
According to the Russian defence ministry, the Z symbol stands for “za pobedy”, which means “for victory” in Russian.
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