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Loughborough terror accused 'plotted Columbine-type deaths' | Loughborough terror accused 'plotted Columbine-type deaths' |
(35 minutes later) | |
A 17-year-old boy plotted to carry out a terrorist attack at his old school on the 15th anniversary of the Columbine attacks, a court was told. | A 17-year-old boy plotted to carry out a terrorist attack at his old school on the 15th anniversary of the Columbine attacks, a court was told. |
The boy, from Loughborough, kept a photograph of two teenagers who murdered 13 people at Columbine High School, in Colorado, in 1999. | The boy, from Loughborough, kept a photograph of two teenagers who murdered 13 people at Columbine High School, in Colorado, in 1999. |
The Old Bailey heard he had considered killing himself, and other people, as he felt angry and depressed. | The Old Bailey heard he had considered killing himself, and other people, as he felt angry and depressed. |
However, he denied wanting to copy the killers during cross-examination. | However, he denied wanting to copy the killers during cross-examination. |
The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, kept a picture of Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, who killed 12 students and a teacher at the US high school. | The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, kept a picture of Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, who killed 12 students and a teacher at the US high school. |
Prosecutor Max Hill QC told the court the teenager intended to carry out his attack, which he referred to himself as "the operation", on 20 April, 2014. | Prosecutor Max Hill QC told the court the teenager intended to carry out his attack, which he referred to himself as "the operation", on 20 April, 2014. |
Asked if that was correct, the defendant, who has Asperger's syndrome, replied: "Quite possibly, yes." | Asked if that was correct, the defendant, who has Asperger's syndrome, replied: "Quite possibly, yes." |
'No more mosques' | 'No more mosques' |
The boy denied 20 April was a significant date for him as it was the day of the Columbine murders and the day Adolf Hitler was born. | The boy denied 20 April was a significant date for him as it was the day of the Columbine murders and the day Adolf Hitler was born. |
Mr Hill asked if by April the defendant intended to have a gun licence. | Mr Hill asked if by April the defendant intended to have a gun licence. |
He replied "possibly, yes" and also told the court he wanted to buy firearms. | |
Asked why he had the picture of Klebold and Harris, he said: "Because it was to do with Columbine and part of history." | Asked why he had the picture of Klebold and Harris, he said: "Because it was to do with Columbine and part of history." |
It is alleged the teenager planned to use petrol bombs, air rifles, pistols and armour found at his home against staff and pupils at the school in Loughborough. | It is alleged the teenager planned to use petrol bombs, air rifles, pistols and armour found at his home against staff and pupils at the school in Loughborough. |
It is claimed he also named his college, a local mosque, a cinema, and Loughborough University as potential targets, and is alleged to have written a "hit list" of people he intended to target. | It is claimed he also named his college, a local mosque, a cinema, and Loughborough University as potential targets, and is alleged to have written a "hit list" of people he intended to target. |
Photographs of the teenager making a military-style salute outside a mosque in Loughborough and outside a leisure centre, on which he had spray-painted the words "No more mosques", were shown to the jury. | Photographs of the teenager making a military-style salute outside a mosque in Loughborough and outside a leisure centre, on which he had spray-painted the words "No more mosques", were shown to the jury. |
'Pulled a pistol' | |
In the leisure centre picture, he was holding a machete. | |
He told the court he had been making the salute, with an arm raised up in the air, after seeing Norwegian mass killer Anders Breivik making a similar gesture. | He told the court he had been making the salute, with an arm raised up in the air, after seeing Norwegian mass killer Anders Breivik making a similar gesture. |
Newspaper cuttings of reports about the murderer's trial were found in the teenager's bedroom after his arrest. | Newspaper cuttings of reports about the murderer's trial were found in the teenager's bedroom after his arrest. |
Mr Hill asked the youth why he had wanted to copy Breivik, to which he replied: "I thought it was a cool salute." | Mr Hill asked the youth why he had wanted to copy Breivik, to which he replied: "I thought it was a cool salute." |
He also said he posed with a machete because he "thought it would be cool", the court heard. | He also said he posed with a machete because he "thought it would be cool", the court heard. |
The teenager also admitted to having shown a pistol to a group of strangers on a boat. | The teenager also admitted to having shown a pistol to a group of strangers on a boat. |
He said the incident happened at some point in early 2012 but he was not sure when. | He said the incident happened at some point in early 2012 but he was not sure when. |
The court heard he sent a text message to a friend reading: "So, pulled a pistol on people before." | The court heard he sent a text message to a friend reading: "So, pulled a pistol on people before." |
In a message sent to a friend on Facebook about the event, he also wrote: "Looked scared. They were on a boat. LOL." | In a message sent to a friend on Facebook about the event, he also wrote: "Looked scared. They were on a boat. LOL." |
The defendant has already admitted possessing component parts for improvised explosive devices (IEDs), petrol bombs and pipe bombs. | The defendant has already admitted possessing component parts for improvised explosive devices (IEDs), petrol bombs and pipe bombs. |
But he denies a charge of possessing the items for the purpose, preparation and instigation of an act of terrorism. | But he denies a charge of possessing the items for the purpose, preparation and instigation of an act of terrorism. |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
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