Norway court denies gunman's request for 'disturbing' attire

OSLO: A judge on Wednesday closed the court for the next appearance of Anders Behring Breivik, who has confessed to Norway's July 22 attacks, and denied his request to wear a tailcoat as "disturbing."

On Friday, the 32-year-old rightwing extremist will make his second court appearance since his arrest on July 22 -- shortly after killing 77 people in two attacks -- to determine if he can remain in solitary confinement after the first four-week period has passed.

As ahead of his first court appearance on July 25, the prosecution had requested the proceedings be held behind closed doors to ensure Behring Breivik is not able to communicate with any other "cells," which he has hinted exist.

"The court is looking at this from the principle that the police have not yet drawn a definite conclusion on the question of whether the suspect may have had accomplices during the two attacks," judge Hugo Abelseth said in his ruling, justifying why neither the media nor other observers would be permitted to sit in on the hearing.

Since his arrest, Behring Breivik has strived for as much publicity as possible in what appears to be a ploy to spread his campaign against Islam and multiculturalism.

After having requested in vain to be allowed to wear a "uniform" to his first court appearance in July, the rightwing extremist had asked to dress in a kind of tailcoat, likely the freemason uniform he can be seen posing in on one of the photographs he posted online before the attacks.

His lawyer, Geir Lippestad, had explained that Behring Breivik thus wished to show his respect for the judicial process, pointing out that "the tailcoat is one of the most formal attires worn by men".

"In light of the extreme seriousness of the case, such an attire could be disturbing, insulting and provocative," the judge said, stressing that "ordinary, proper clothing is enough to show that he takes the judicial process seriously."

On July 22, Behring Breivik first set off a car bomb outside government offices, killing eight people, before going on a shooting rampage on the nearby island of Utoeya, where the ruling Labour Party's youth wing was hosting a summer camp, killing 69 more, many of them teenagers.

The 32-year-old, who is being held in preventive custody at a high-security prison, has confessed to the two attacks and said he acted alone.

Police are still searching for possible accomplices, but have said he most likely carried out the attacks on his own.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2011