London, Mar 25 (IANS/RIA Novosti): Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivik, sentenced to 21 years in prison for terrorism and the murder of over 70 people, has asked for permission to attend the funeral of his mother.

Sky News TV channel said Breivik's mother, Wenche Behring Breivik, is reported to have died Friday at the age of 66 after suffering a long illness.

Breivik and his mother met earlier this month at Ila prison where the convicted killer is being held. They said goodbye to each other then.

"He was allowed to say goodbye. They both knew it would be the final meeting. I spoke to him this morning. He was grieving. It was very sad news to him," Breivik's lawyer Tord Jordet told the TV channel.

He said it was up to the prison board to decide on whether to allow the mass murderer to attend his mother's funeral.

On 22 July 2011, Breivik bombed government buildings in Oslo, which resulted in eight deaths. He then opened fire at a youth camp of the ruling Labor party on Uteyya Island, killing 69 people.