The 33-year-old admits detonating a bomb outside the office of Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, killing eight people, and then driving to the island of Utoya where he shot dead 69 people at a Labor Party summer camp.

As well as those who died, 242 were injured. The youngest victim was 14 years old.

Breivik admits carrying out the attacks but says he was well aware of his actions, describing them as "cultural self-defense" to halt the "Islamization" of Norway.

The maximum tariff available to judges in the Norwegian legal system is 21 years, but further detention can be arranged if the inmate is still considered a risk to the public.

The verdict in the case is not considered legally binding until 14 days after it is delivered, to give either side time to appeal. However, in closing Breivik said he would not appeal because to do so would "legitimize" the court's authority.

Prison suite

Breivik returns to Ila prison on the outskirts of Oslo for his "preventive detention." He will be confined to a suite of small cells in an area for prisoners considered to be "Particularly High Security," limited to three rooms in a separate wing. In addition to sleeping quarters he will have his own exercise room and a study with a word processor.

Other inmates have the entire prison at their disposal with gyms and libraries. They are allowed to go to work. These privileges will not be available to Breivik.

jm/slk (Reuters, dpa, AP)