Oslo Attacker Claims 'Two Cells' Helped Him

Counters earlier claim that he acted alone in bombing and shooting Friday

Anders Behring Breivik told a district court that he collaborated with two extremist cells in his attacks on Oslo, The New York Times' Steven Erlanger and Alan Cowell report. Breivik, who is in solitary confinement, pled not guilty at his arraignment hearing because he "believes that he needed to carry out these acts to save Norway... [from] cultural Marxism and Muslim domination," Norwegian officials said.

Officials did not offer details on the "two further cells in our organization" that Breivik claims to have worked with, The Times reports. And Breivik's lawyer countered that claim, saying Breivik told him he acted alone and wrote his manifesto himself. Breivik wanted to appear in court wearing a uniform of some sort, but the court wouldn't allow it.

Police attorney Christian Hatlo said Breivik's claim that he didn't act alone is one "we cannot completely rule out," Reuters's Johan Ahlander and Aasa Christine Stoltz report. They add that it's unknown whether Breivik, who wanted to restart the Knights Templar, was really part of any organization.