Anders Behring Breivik
A far-right extremist whose 2011 bomb and gun attacks in Norway killed 77 people, primarily teenagers, marking the nation's deadliest peacetime tragedy.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Norwegian terrorist·Birthday: February 13·Generation X
Biography
Born in Oslo, Anders Behring Breivik's early life was marked by his parents' separation and a period of social isolation. In his twenties, he became deeply involved in online forums espousing anti-immigrant and anti-Muslim ideologies, which crystallized into a violent, self-styled crusade against what he termed 'cultural Marxism.' On July 22, 2011, he executed a meticulously planned assault, detonating a van bomb outside government buildings in Oslo, killing eight. He then traveled to the island of Utøya, disguised as a police officer, and spent over an hour systematically shooting participants at a Labour Party youth camp, murdering 69 more, most of them minors. His trial revealed a chillingly composed individual motivated by a desire to spark a nationalist revolution. Found legally sane and criminally responsible, he was sentenced to Norway's maximum penalty of 21 years in prison, a term that can be extended indefinitely.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Anders was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Anders Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Anders's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Perpetrated the coordinated 2011 Norway attacks, comprising a car bomb in Oslo and a mass shooting at a political youth camp on Utøya island.
- Authored a 1,500-page manifesto titled '2083: A European Declaration of Independence,' which outlined his extremist ideology and attack methodology.
- Was sentenced to 21 years of preventive detention, Norway's maximum penalty, following a trial that captivated and horrified the nation.
- His attacks prompted profound national debates on security, multiculturalism, and the rise of right-wing extremism in Europe.
Did You Know?
Prior to his attacks, he ran a successful agricultural business to fund his activities, claiming to sell fake diplomas and designer clothing.
He spent years playing the online role-playing game World of Warcraft, which some analysts suggest he used for logistical planning.
During his trial, he performed a closed-fist salute, which he later stated was a 'mark of respect' to right-wing extremists.
His prison conditions, which include a three-cell complex with exercise equipment and a PlayStation, have been a subject of international controversy.
“Cultural Marxism is destroying our identity, and I had to act.”
