'He is getting what he wants': families of victims voice anger at Breivik's bragging

Friends and relatives of the 77 people massacred by Norway's anti-Islamic gunman Anders Behring Breivik reacted with horror and disgust yesterday as the self-confessed killer boasted in court that his twin terrorist attacks were "spectacular" feats and that, given the chance, he would do it all again.

On the second day of his trial in Oslo, the 33-year-old mass murderer grinned, smirked and laughed as he told judges he was "defending his country" when he detonated a car bomb in the centre of the Norwegian capital last July and later went on the rampage at a Labour Party island youth camp, killing 69 teenagers.

"I have carried out the most sophisticated and spectacular political attack in Europe since the Second World War," he told the court after repeating the Nazi-style salute he gave at his trial on Monday.

It was the first of five days allocated for Breivik to explain his motives for Norway's worst violence since the Second World War. The authorities have ruled against broadcasting his testimony because of fears it could be used as propaganda for his cause.

Breivik spent more than a hour delivering what amounted to an attack on the core liberal values of Norway's democratic system. His racist and deeply disturbing performance was watched by his victims' relatives who winced as they sat separated by a bullet proof screen a few feet behind the killer. "He is getting what he wants and I don't want to be a part of that," said Hildegunn Fallang, a survivor.

Christian Lundin, a lawyer for the victims' families said: "He tried to establish a political platform. It was not necessary to allow him to talk for so long." Tore Bekkedal, another survivor, said: "A large part of what he said had nothing to do with the case. It was infantile and stupid."

The court showed its commitment to a fair trial by dismissing a lay judge who argued on Facebook that Breivik should face the death penalty.

Prosecution and defence lawyers have said that allowing Breivik to explain his motives was a vital part of his trial as it would enable judges to decide on the key question: whether Breivik is insane or can be considered fully accountable for his actions.

Psychiatrists are divided over the issue. One report claims Breivik is suffering from paranoid schizophrenia. But a second examination shortly before his trial concluded he was sane. The court's ruling will determine whether he spends the rest of his life in prison or in psychiatric care.

Breivik has said that being declared insane would be a "fate worse than death". His lawyers said his main objective was to show the court he was sane and fully accountable for his actions; in his view such a verdict would vindicate his racist, white supremacist and anti-Muslim ideology.

Yesterday he gave full vent to his fanatical far-right views. Claiming he acted out of "goodness, not evil", he said he carried out his attacks to prevent a wider civil war between white European nationalists and Marxist "internationalists" who favoured multiculturalism and Muslim immigration. He has claimed the teenagers he killed on the fjord island of Utoya were ambassadors for the multiculturalism he detests. "The attacks on 22 July were a preventive strike. I acted in self-defence on behalf of my people, my city, my country. I therefore demand to be found innocent of the present charges," he said. Dagbladet newspaper has published a Breivik-free edition on its website, in response to claims there is too much said about the case.