Norway fights Breivik 'inhumane' prison conditions claim

The Norwegian government is appealing against a ruling that some of Anders Breivik's (pictured) treatment in prison was 'inhumane'

Norwegian mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik is more radical than ever, prosecutors warned as the right-wing extremist appeared in court.

Fredrik Sejersted said the government should still be prepared for Breivik, who gave a Nazi salute on entering the courtroom, to do the unthinkable.

Breivik gave a Nazi salute, which the judge described as "disturbing"

The state is appealing against a ruling that some of Breivik's treatment in prison amounted to "inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment". Breivik killed 77 people in July 2011.


He murdered 69 people at a summer camp for young centre-left political activists on the island of Utoeya after, earlier in the day, setting off a car bomb in the capital Oslo, killing eight people.

The 37-year-old has been kept in solitary confinement since he was sentenced, in 2012, to 21 years in prison - but he has argued that being kept away from other prisoners for 22-23 hours a day breaches his human rights.

Breivik's lawyer Oystein Storrvik has said the killer is "mentally vulnerable" because of his prison conditions.

In April 2016, a Norwegian court upheld part of his claim, although it dismissed his argument that his right to respect for private and family life was violated by restrictions on contact with other right-wing extremists.

On Tuesday, the Norwegian government - which was also ordered to pay Breivik's legal costs of 330,000 kroner ($38,500; £31,600) - began the process of appealing against the court's ruling.