Police Almost Shot Breivik Fearing Bomb Vest

Massacre suspect Anders Breivik was almost shot by police as they came face-to-face on the Norwegian island of Utoya, it has been revealed.

Officers were ready to open fire on the 32-year-old because they believed he could be wearing a suicide bomber vest.

"The situation was very tense, and they couldn't see the way he was clothed," said Anders Snortheimsmoen, the head of the anti-terror unit that arrested him.

Moments later, Breivik surrendered with his hands raised high above his head following a killing spree that has left 68 people dead or unaccounted for.

Describing the details of the arrest for the first time, police said they had arrived on Utoya on two civilian boats after their police vessel had engine trouble.

The eight members of Oslo's anti-terror squad and two local police officers saw shots being fired from the southern tip of the island into the water.

Some of those who had gathered for the Labour Party summer camp had jumped into Tyrifjorden lake to escape the gunman.

Haavard Gaasbakk, one of the local police officers, recounted the events, saying: "We can see ammunition hit the water, and we hear the cracks."

They landed the boat and ran about 350 metres, yelling "armed police" to draw the gunman's attention.

Mr Gaasbakk said: "We come to a forested area and the suspect stands there right in front of us with his hands high above his head."

The shooter's weapon - a semi-automatic rifle that had been modified to make it automatic - was on the ground a few feet behind him.

Mr Gaasbakk said some members of the team detained the suspect, while the others started administering first aid to the wounded.

More police arrived, followed by doctors and volunteers from the area who used their private boats to ferry survivors to the mainland.

"There was a flood of evacuated people who came running or were carried by police," he said.

"I'm proud and humbled by the crews that were there and contributed.

"They showed determination and courage the whole way."

Breivik's lawyer said on Tuesday his client had expected police to detain him sooner.

He has confessed to the killings but denies the terrorism charges against him.

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