Christopher E. Etter

On July 22, 2011, Anders Behring Breivik carried out two coordinated terrorist attacks in Norway. The first was a car bombing in Oslo's government quarter, which killed eight people and injured over 200. The second attack, occurring less than two hours later, involved a mass shooting at a youth camp on the island of Utøya, resulting in 69 deaths and 33 injuries. Breivik, a 32-year-old Norwegian national, was apprehended at the scene of the Utøya attack.

Breivik's trial took place in 2012, where he admitted to the attacks but denied criminal guilt, claiming necessity. He was convicted and sentenced to 21 years of preventive detention, the maximum sentence in Norway. Investigations revealed Breivik had been preparing for the attacks since at least 2009, including a failed attempt to acquire weapons in Prague and the legal procurement of firearms and materials for explosives in Norway. He operated a fictitious agricultural business, Breivik Geofarm, to purchase large quantities of fertilizer without arousing suspicion. The scale of the attacks and Breivik's ability to act alone led to significant debate and reviews of Norway's security measures.

Anders Behring Breivik's preparation for the 2011 attacks spanned at least from 2009, involving meticulous planning and concealment of his violent intentions. His efforts included a trip to Prague in late August and early September 2010, where he sought firearms, believing the city to be a significant hub for illicit trade. Despite his reservations about personal safety and encountering difficulties in acquiring weapons there, he managed to obtain a police uniform and fake badges. Upon returning to Norway, Breivik procured weapons through legal channels, obtaining permits for a semi-automatic rifle and a pistol by demonstrating a clean record and participation in sport shooting. He also acquired high-capacity magazines. A significant part of his preparation involved establishing a sole proprietorship, Breivik Geofarm, ostensibly for agricultural purposes. This front allowed him to purchase substantial quantities of fertilizer, essential for constructing the car bomb used in the Oslo attack. His activities, including Polish purchases of chemicals, placed him on a watch list, though intelligence agencies did not initially act on this information, deeming his actions not directly relevant to their terror concerns.

On July 22, 2011, Breivik executed his planned attacks. The first occurred at 15:25:22 Central European Summer Time when a car bomb detonated in Regjeringskvartalet, Oslo's government district. The bomb, housed in a white Volkswagen Crafter, was parked near key government buildings, including the Prime Minister's office. The explosion killed eight people and injured at least 210. Surveillance footage showed the vehicle entering the area and Breivik, disguised as a police officer, exiting the van shortly before the detonation and departing in a separate vehicle. Less than two hours later, Breivik arrived at a Workers' Youth League (AUF) summer camp on Utøya island. Posing as a police officer responding to the bombing, he gained access to the island. After killing two organizers, he opened fire on the attendees, killing 69 people and wounding 33. The attacks were the deadliest in Norway since World War II, profoundly impacting the nation and eliciting international condemnation and support.

Following the attacks, Anders Behring Breivik was arrested on Utøya island by Norwegian police. His trial commenced on April 16, 2012, at the Oslo District Court. Breivik admitted to carrying out the acts but pleaded not guilty, arguing necessity as a defense. On August 24, 2012, he was convicted on all charges and sentenced to 21 years of preventive detention, the maximum penalty allowed under Norwegian law, with the possibility of indefinite extensions to protect public safety. The Gjørv Report, released in 2012, concluded that the police could have prevented the bombing and apprehended Breivik more quickly on Utøya, and that better preparedness measures should have been in place. The case sparked widespread debate in Norway regarding how an individual could acquire such significant amounts of materials and execute such devastating attacks independently.