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Far-right extremists guilty of planning terror attacks | Far-right extremists guilty of planning terror attacks |
(33 minutes later) | |
Brogan Stewart, Christopher Ringrose and Marco Pitzettu were intent on carrying out a violent attack, counter-terror police said | Brogan Stewart, Christopher Ringrose and Marco Pitzettu were intent on carrying out a violent attack, counter-terror police said |
Three far-right extremists who amassed hundreds of weapons and planned to carry out attacks on targets including a mosque have been convicted of terrorism offences. | Three far-right extremists who amassed hundreds of weapons and planned to carry out attacks on targets including a mosque have been convicted of terrorism offences. |
Brogan Stewart, 25, from West Yorkshire, Christopher Ringrose, 34, from Staffordshire, and Marco Pitzettu, 25, from Derbyshire, were part of an online group who "idolised the Nazi regime". | Brogan Stewart, 25, from West Yorkshire, Christopher Ringrose, 34, from Staffordshire, and Marco Pitzettu, 25, from Derbyshire, were part of an online group who "idolised the Nazi regime". |
Sheffield Crown Court was told how Stewart had detailed torturing a Muslim leader using an "information extraction kit". | Sheffield Crown Court was told how Stewart had detailed torturing a Muslim leader using an "information extraction kit". |
All three were found guilty of terrorism offences at the same court on Wednesday and are due to be sentenced on 17 July. | All three were found guilty of terrorism offences at the same court on Wednesday and are due to be sentenced on 17 July. |
The trio had amassed a cache of weapons as part of their planning | The trio had amassed a cache of weapons as part of their planning |
During the nine-week trial, the court heard more than 200 weapons including machetes, hunting knives, swords and crossbows were found at their homes. | During the nine-week trial, the court heard more than 200 weapons including machetes, hunting knives, swords and crossbows were found at their homes. |
Ringrose had also begun to build a 3D-printed semi-automatic firearm, which counter-terror police said would have been a "lethal weapon". | Ringrose had also begun to build a 3D-printed semi-automatic firearm, which counter-terror police said would have been a "lethal weapon". |
The three men had discussed targets for harassment and attacks including mosques, Islamic education centres and synagogues. | The three men had discussed targets for harassment and attacks including mosques, Islamic education centres and synagogues. |
The court heard how the group, who had never met in person and communicated online, were infiltrated by an undercover officer. | The court heard how the group, who had never met in person and communicated online, were infiltrated by an undercover officer. |
Stewart, the group's leader, had told the officer that they needed to establish a "new einsatzgruppe" - a reference to Adolf Hitler's SS death squad. | Stewart, the group's leader, had told the officer that they needed to establish a "new einsatzgruppe" - a reference to Adolf Hitler's SS death squad. |
The weapons were found after searches of the men's homes | The weapons were found after searches of the men's homes |
In chats via the Telegram social media platform, he described how he had an "information kit" which included a blowtorch, pliers, gaffer tape, a screwdriver, bleach and a syringe. | In chats via the Telegram social media platform, he described how he had an "information kit" which included a blowtorch, pliers, gaffer tape, a screwdriver, bleach and a syringe. |
Stewart, from Tingley, near Leeds, went on to detail torturing victims such as "local imams" and added nothing "loosened up" people "like seeing a syringe filled with bleach", jurors were told. | Stewart, from Tingley, near Leeds, went on to detail torturing victims such as "local imams" and added nothing "loosened up" people "like seeing a syringe filled with bleach", jurors were told. |
The group were also prepared for what they believed was an inevitable race war. | The group were also prepared for what they believed was an inevitable race war. |
The men were arrested after security services believed an attack could be imminent. | The men were arrested after security services believed an attack could be imminent. |
Det Ch Supt James Dunkerley, the head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, said the men had claimed what they were discussing was "just harmless chat". | Det Ch Supt James Dunkerley, the head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, said the men had claimed what they were discussing was "just harmless chat". |
"These men had bonded over extreme racial prejudice. They idolised the Nazi regime, they glorified mass killing," he said. | "These men had bonded over extreme racial prejudice. They idolised the Nazi regime, they glorified mass killing," he said. |
"They've physically amassed weapons, they've constructed a 3D-printed firearm and they were trying to identify potential targets. | "They've physically amassed weapons, they've constructed a 3D-printed firearm and they were trying to identify potential targets. |
"This was far more than fantasy. This was something that could have very easily moved into the real world." | "This was far more than fantasy. This was something that could have very easily moved into the real world." |
Stewart, Ringrose and Pitzettu were all found guilty of a charge of preparing acts of terrorism and charges of collecting information likely to be useful to a person preparing or committing an act of terrorism. | Stewart, Ringrose and Pitzettu were all found guilty of a charge of preparing acts of terrorism and charges of collecting information likely to be useful to a person preparing or committing an act of terrorism. |
Ringrose was also convicted of manufacturing a prohibited weapon. | Ringrose was also convicted of manufacturing a prohibited weapon. |
Pitzettu pleaded guilty to obtaining an illegal stun gun at a previous hearing. | Pitzettu pleaded guilty to obtaining an illegal stun gun at a previous hearing. |
The judge, Mrs Justice Cutts, told them: "You must all expect substantial custodial sentences." | |
Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. | Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. |