Anders Behring Breivik wants to tell Norway and the world why he killed at least 93 people in a bomb attack and shooting rampage, but a judge ruled that Monday’s custody hearing would be closed to the public. Breivik, a self-confessed mass killer, has said through his lawyer that he wants to explain his motives at the hearing. The 32-year-old, who portrays himself as crusader against a tide of Islam in a rambling 1,500-page online manifesto, says he wants to explain acts he deemed ‘atrocious’ but ‘necessary’. The hearing, expected to start after 1 pm (1100 GMT), has opened a debate about freedom of expression, with many people opposed to allowing Breivik to expound his radical views. More than 60,000 had signed up to a Facebook page called “Shut the doors on Monday”, calling on the court to deny Breivik the publicity he craves. Another Facebook group called “Boycott Anders Behring Breivik” carried the message: “He has planned this stage, to get propaganda. Do NOT let him get that freedom…Boycott all media describing the Norwegian terrorist and his beliefs.”
