OSLO, Norway (AP) — The leader of the Norwegian police unit that arrested Anders Behring Breivik, ending a shooting rampage that killed 68 people, says his officers nearly shot him because they feared he might be wearing an explosive belt.
Delta Force leader Anders Snortheimsmoen told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the decision not to shoot him was made by a “very narrow margin.” Before the shooting, Breivik had set off a car bomb in downtown Oslo, killing eight.
He says Breivik followed police orders, dropping his weapons, walking toward officers with his hands in the air and laying himself on the ground when told to.
Snortheimsmoen says Breivik would have been shot if he had taken longer to follow officers’ orders.
