Norway's July 22, 2011, terror attack: a timeline
A timeline of the events of July 2011, when Anders Behring Breivik attacked the Norwegian government and a Labor youth camp on the island of Utoya, killing a total of 77 people, and the court proceedings that followed
Your support helps us to tell the story
This election is still a dead heat, according to most polls. In a fight with such wafer-thin margins, we need reporters on the ground talking to the people Trump and Harris are courting. Your support allows us to keep sending journalists to the story.
The Independent is trusted by 27 million Americans from across the entire political spectrum every month. Unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock you out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. But quality journalism must still be paid for.
Help us keep bring these critical stories to light. Your support makes all the difference.
A timeline of the events of July 2011, when Anders Behring Breivik attacked the Norwegian government and a Labor youth camp on the island of Utoya killing a total of 77 people, and the court proceedings that followed:
July 22, 2011
2:09 p.m. — Anders Breivik sends a manifesto, “2083 – A European Declaration of Independence” to 1,002 email addresses including Norwegian politicians and journalists.
3:17 p.m. — Breivik parks a white van outside the government quarter in Oslo loaded with a 950-kilogram bomb, then leaves in a separate vehicle heading for Utoya island.
3:25 p.m. — The bomb explodes, killing six women and two men.
5:17 p.m. — Breivik arrives in Utoya on a boat from the mainland, dressed as a policeman and carrying an arsenal of weapons in a suitcase
5:21 p.m. — The shooting starts. Breivik kills a guard and a camp organizer before stalking and murdering mostly teenagers and young adults around the island. He kills 69 people.
6:34 p.m. — Breivik gives himself up to armed police and is arrested
April 16, 2012 — The trial begins with Breivik entering the court giving a clenched fist salute. The court will decide if he is sane, and capable of facing justice.
August 24, 2012 — Breivik is sentenced to the maximum 21 years in prison. He will serve his sentence in a high security three-room cell, with access to a gym and computer games, but very little contact with other inmates.
July 2015 — Breivik begins proceedings to sue the Norwegian state for violations of human rights
March 15, 2016 — Breivik returns to court in a special prison facility, for the beginning of the hearing. He enters, giving a Nazi salute
April 20, 2016 — The Oslo district court rules that Breivik’s imprisonment violates article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, which prohibits inhuman or degrading treatment. The government says it will appeal
March 1, 2017 — An appeals court overrules the previous decision
June 21, 2018 — The European Court of Human Rights rejects Breivik’s appeal
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.