Massacre Suspect Breivik May Die In Prison

Norwegian massacre suspect Anders Breivik may die in prison if found guilty of the horrific killings of 76 people, it has emerged.

In the days following Friday's attacks it was revealed the maximum sentence that could be handed by a court under Norwegian laws for the mass killings was 21 years - equivalent to just three months for each person he killed.

People from across the world turned to internet social networking sites and blogs to express their outrage, with many demanding the law be changed.

But the country's Prime Minister, Jens Stoltenberg, has said there is legislation that allows them to apply for criminals to be held behind bars for longer.

"Twenty-one years is a long sentence," he told reporters.

"But in addition, we have a system of preventive detention which makes it possible to have people in jail longer if it is deemed necessary to protect society."

Mr Stoltenberg said later in a news conference that a commission would be created to investigate the twin attacks that have rocked the country.

Meanwhile, Oslo police have described in detail their response to the Utoya shooting, which left 68 people dead.

Jacob Bjertnaes, commander of the team who arrested Breivik, said he was "proud" of his men, adding: "They were extremely solid and showed much courage right down the line."

Senior police also described how Breivik offered no resistance to the arresting officers.

Haavard Gaasbakk told reporters the gunman lay down his weapon and "held his hands above his head".

"It was a completely normal arrest," he said.

It has been revealed Breivik posed as a farmer to stockpile explosives and how the suspect possibly planned more attacks.

Norwegian police detonated a cache of explosives at a farm rented by the alleged shooter on Tuesday night.

Police believe Breivik made the bomb which killed eight people in Oslo on Friday using fertiliser as a main ingredient.

Sky's Alistair Bunkall, in Oslo, said: "He had been operating as a farmer to try and obtain fertiliser by legal means and police have been probing how he got it.

"This is a development in the investigation because it shows he had been stockpiling fertilisers and explosives over a number of years with the single purpose of detonating them as he did on Friday."

A police spokeswoman said no-one was hurt in the controlled blast, at Rena, about 100 miles (160km) north of the capital.

She did not specify the quantity of explosives found.

Since Friday's attacks Norway has been on high alert with authorities tightening security across the country following Breivik's claim he was working with other cells.

Oslo's central station was evacuated on Wednesday morning and bomb disposal teams were called in after a suspicious suitcase was left on a bus.

A railways spokesman said: "Police are on the scene and taking the measures they deem necessary."

Witnesses said a nervous-looking man, aged 25-30 and wearing black with white headgear, put the bag down before getting off the bus.

Police later said nothing suspicious was found at the station, adding that there was no evidence to suggest the apparent threat was linked to Friday's attacks.

Mr Stoltenberg said the Norway as everyone knew it before the July 22 attacks had changed.

But he said: "We will not be intimidated or threatened by these attacks."

He added that the violence would be met by more openness and democracy.

Breivik has confessed to the bombing at a government headquarters and the shooting rampage on the island retreat for the youth wing of the ruling Labour Party, but he pleads not guilty to the terrorism charges he faces.

He claims he acted to save Europe from what he describes as Muslim colonisation.

Breivik's lawyer said he would advise his client to plead insanity at his trial for the murders of the bombing victims and 68 fellow Norwegians on Utoya.

As details of Breivik's victims began to emerge , lawyer Geir Lippestad, described him as a "very cold" person who described the attacks as necessary because he was in a state of war.

"This whole case indicated that he is insane," Mr Lippestad said.