Poland has its Breivik-type maniacs too, says foreign minister

Sikorski's remarks were made before an emergency meeting of counter-terrorism officials today in Brussels on how to combat such attacks in Europe.

“In Poland there is no lack of people thinking like Breivik, who shot at his own people, so as to bring down the government because of a belief that it is devoid of the legal and political right to govern,” Sikorski said on Wednesday.

Sikorski made the remarks at a press conference with his British counterpart, William Hague.

“In Poland we also have circles that believe that the democratically elected president and government are traitors who do not truly represent Poland and the Poles,” he continued.

“These are very dangerous emotions and stoking them can lead to unpredictable consequences.”

The foreign minister further claimed that “certain political parties had expressed their approval of the terrorist.”

Alluding to the Norwegian murderer's purchase of chemicals in Poland, Sikorski affirmed that the case demonstrated “how much Pan-European cooperation is needed” when looking into “suspicious transactions.”

The foreign minister went on to cite the internet as a potentially sinister tool for those bent on propagating agendas of hate.

Describing the net as a “cesspool”, he cited his own current legal battle, in which he is suing a newspaper for allowing anti-semitic reader remarks to languish in comment boxes.

'Insane'

Meanwhile, over in Norway, authorities have clarified the death toll as 76, 68 of which were shot on the island of Utoya.

Breivik's lawyer is declaring that his client in “insane.”

Cecilia Malmström, the European commissioner for home affairs, said on Wednesday that European governments were “not well equipped” to prevent the bomb attacks in Oslo and the shooting on the island of Utøya.

“We don't know how big the threat really is,” she said ahead of the meeting of terrorism experts today in Brussles. (nh/pg)