Suspect focused on buying specific weapons

The Nordic countries’ hunting traditions mean that there is a high rate of gun ownership in Norway, where locals – and tourists - often go out to the woods to hunt wild reindeer, moose, deer, hare and grouse.

About 439,000 Norwegians are recognised by the Norwegian Register of Hunters, or about one in every 10 citizens. However, most have licences for bolt-action rifles and shotguns, with a smattering of semi-automatic weapons, and ownership of heavier weapons and handguns is usually much more restrictive. Government pre-approval and registration is necessary for all firearms.

According to his manifesto, Anders Behring Breivik already owned a Benelli Nova pump-action shotgun, but unsuccessfully travelled to Prague in the Czech Republic in August 2010 to illegally purchase and smuggle back in hollowed out car seats an AK-47 automatic rifle, and a 9mm Glock pistol.

Returning to Oslo, he says he tried to purchase weapons through legal channels, and was eventually successful in being approved to buy a €1,400 Ruger Mini 14 mini-automatic rifle in October-November, partially thanks to his membership of the Oslo Pistol Club.

However, in his diary he complained that it was a “poor man’s [Armalite] AR-15”.

“I envy our European American brothers as the gun laws in Europe suck ass in comparison ... On the application form I stated: ‘hunting deer’. It would have been tempting to just write the truth; ‘executing category A and B cultural Marxists/multiculturalist traitors’ just to see their reaction,” he wrote, adding a smiley face icon.

Mr Breivik was also able to acquire a €800 silencer for the Ruger, and bought 30 magazine clips from a US supplier. In November, December and January he went through 15 training sessions at the Oslo Pistol Club, and by mid-January his application to purchase a Glock 16 was approved.

“The fact that I joined the club as early as 2005 was a planned move to increase my chances for obtaining a Glock, legally,” he said.