Italian lawmaker apologises for backing Breivik ideology (Lead)
July 28th, 2011 - 5:27 pm ICT by IANSRome, July 28 (IANS/RIA Novosti) An Italian member of the European parliament apologised Thursday to Norway for his support for some of the ideas expressed by twin terror attacker Anders Behring Breivik.
Mario Borghezio, of the anti-immigration Northern League party, condemned last Friday’s attacks, but supported Breivik’s opposition to Muslim immigration to Europe in an interview with an Italian radio earlier in the day.
“I apologise to the victims and the Norwegian people,” said Borghezio, an ally of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi. He also said he would make a statement in the European parliament.
Breivik has admitted to carrying out a bombing in Oslo that killed eight people, and a mass shooting at a Labor Party youth camp on the nearby island of Utoya, which left 68 dead.
According to police and court officials, Breivik, 32, said the attacks were “atrocious but necessary” measures intended to “save Norway and western Europe” from a “Muslim takeover”.
Borghezio’s earlier comments sparked strong criticism both from the Italian opposition, which has called for his resignation, and fellow European parliamentarians.
Borghezio is not the first right-wing politician to defend some of Breivik’s views. A member of France’s far-right National Front party has been suspended after posting a comment on his blog in which he described the Norwegian attacker as “the main defender of the West”.
Norwegian prosecutor Christian Hatlo said Tuesday that if charged with crimes against humanity, Breivik could face up to 30 years in prison.
–IANS/RIA Novosti
rd/vt
- Italian leader supports Norwegian attacker's views - Jul 28, 2011
- Norway failed to act on Breivik 'explosives' report - Jul 26, 2011
- Norway killer officially charged with terrorism - Mar 08, 2012
- Police guard from massacred Utoya camp missing - Jul 25, 2011
- Norway attacker took paramilitary training in Belarus - Jul 28, 2011
- Breivik's copycat held in Czech Republic - Aug 19, 2012
- Breivik planned more Oslo attacks, says lawyer - Jul 29, 2011
- Norwegian killer posted manifesto, video before attacks - Jul 24, 2011
- Police hunt for man who compares himself to Norway attacker - Jul 27, 2011
- Norway killing suspect may get 21 years in jail (Lead) - Jul 24, 2011
- Suspect confesses to Norwegian camp mass killing - Jul 24, 2011
- Norway gunman claims to be sane - Apr 05, 2012
- Norway mass killer says acted in defence of nation - Apr 16, 2012
- It was gruesome but necessary, says Norway attacker - Jul 24, 2011
- Norway killer's friends viewed him as gay - May 29, 2012
Tags: apologised, apologises, attacker, behring, court officials, crimes against humanity, european parliament, european parliamentarians, hatlo, italian member, italian prime minister, italian radio, lawmaker, mario borghezio, nearby island, necessary measures, prime minister silvio, ria novosti, silvio berlusconi, western europe