Anders Behring Breivik, accused Norway gunman, very likely 'insane' says his lawyer

The right-wing extremist charged in Norway's twin terror attacks was surprised he wasn't stopped sooner, but is very likely insane, his lawyer said Tuesday.

Anders Behring Breivik is a \"very cold\" person who believes he is Europe's \"savior,\" lawyer Geir Lippestad said.

The horrific attacks, however, raised obvious questions about his Breivik's mental state.

\"This whole case has indicated that he's insane,\" Lippestad said. \"He expects that this is a startof war that will last for 60 years, but his mind is very ... well, I don't want to comment more on his mind, but that's what he believes.

Breivik, 32, has confessed to the bombing and shooting rampage, saying he was part of a Christian crusader army trying to save Europe from Muslim domination.

\"He looks upon himself as a warrior. And he started this war, and takes some kind of pride in that,\" Lippestad said.

One of the first questions Breivik asked after his arrest Friday was how many people he had killed, Lippestad said.

Geir Lippestad, defense lawyer for Anders Behring Breivik, in Oslo, Norway. (AP Photo/Scanpix Norway/Berit Roald)

The slow response by police to the second part of the attack at a camp on an isolated island outside of Oslo has raised questions whether more people could have been saved.

Police have acknowledged that they took 90 minutes to reach the island and were unable to deploy a helicopter because the entire crew was on vacation.

Victims who called emergency services during the massacre reported being told to stay off the line because authorities were dealing with the Oslo bombing.

Justice Minister Knut Storberget indicated that a probe into the failings may be opened in future.

\"I feel the police have delivered well in this situation,\" he said. \"It's very important that we have an open and critical discussion about how all sections of society handle a situation.\"

At his arraignment Monday, Breivik claimed there were two other cells in his \"organization\" ready to strike. Police say they have not ruled out Breivik having accomplices, but believe he acted alone in the attacks.

He pleaded not guilty and has been ordered held in isolation.

Lippestad said the hearing had been closed from public view because of conces that Breivikwould send signals to the other cells.

Breivik told his lawyer that the \"operation\" is going according to plan.

In a 1,500-page manifesto, Breivik said he is a part of a Christian army defending European purity and that the attacks were a way of \"marketing\" his ideas.

The double strike Friday left eight dead in a massive bombing in downtown Oslo and 68 more at island youth camp for Norway's leading Labor Party.

Officials said they would start publicly naming the dead for the first time on Tuesday.

Lippestad, who is a Labor Party member, called the attacks \"absurd and horrible,\" and was unsure why Breivik chose him.

Still, Lippestad said the legal system is very important and that someone has to do the job of defending even the most reviled suspects.