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Michael Piggin jury sees notebook with alleged bomb plot 'hit list' Michael Piggin jury sees notebook with alleged bomb plot 'hit list'
(35 minutes later)
A jury has been shown a notebook in which a teenager accused of planning a repeat of the Columbine school massacre kept a "hit list" of his alleged targets.A jury has been shown a notebook in which a teenager accused of planning a repeat of the Columbine school massacre kept a "hit list" of his alleged targets.
Michael Piggin armed himself with guns and explosives as he plotted a terror attack on staff and pupils at his former school in Loughborough, Leicestershire, prosecutors have said.Michael Piggin armed himself with guns and explosives as he plotted a terror attack on staff and pupils at his former school in Loughborough, Leicestershire, prosecutors have said.
The teenager, who was 17 when he was arrested but can now be named after turning 18, also identified his college, Loughborough mosque, a local cinema, Loughborough University and the town's council offices as potential targets, the Old Bailey heard. The teenager, who was 17 when he was arrested and is now 18, also identified his college, Loughborough mosque, a local cinema, Loughborough University and the town's council offices as potential targets, the Old Bailey heard.
In the notebook, which has a Che Guevara image on the front and Nazi swastikas and English Defence League (EDL) mottos scrawled on it, Piggin wrote about testing explosives and pipe bombs as part of his alleged plan for "the new Columbine". He also complained that "as usual, life is shit" because he did not have a girlfriend or real friends.In the notebook, which has a Che Guevara image on the front and Nazi swastikas and English Defence League (EDL) mottos scrawled on it, Piggin wrote about testing explosives and pipe bombs as part of his alleged plan for "the new Columbine". He also complained that "as usual, life is shit" because he did not have a girlfriend or real friends.
Piggin later told police he had been experimenting, as they uncovered a stockpile of weapons in his bedroom, the court heard.Piggin later told police he had been experimenting, as they uncovered a stockpile of weapons in his bedroom, the court heard.
Jurors have been shown weapons recovered by Leicestershire police, including air rifles, knives, a crossbow and a machete, after Piggin's home was searched in February last year.Jurors have been shown weapons recovered by Leicestershire police, including air rifles, knives, a crossbow and a machete, after Piggin's home was searched in February last year.
Photographs of his bedroom with a swastika flag on the wall and a poster of the Joker from the Batman film, the Dark Knight, have also been shown to the jury.Photographs of his bedroom with a swastika flag on the wall and a poster of the Joker from the Batman film, the Dark Knight, have also been shown to the jury.
Officers were called to Piggin's home address in Beaumont Road, Loughborough, to investigate a public order offence from six days earlier, the court heard.Officers were called to Piggin's home address in Beaumont Road, Loughborough, to investigate a public order offence from six days earlier, the court heard.
When police entered his bedroom, he said: "I carry the knife for my own protection," the jury was told. After handing over two knives kept in two different coats, Piggin added: "I'd better give you these. I've been experimenting." The jury was told that when police entered his bedroom, he said: "I carry the knife for my own protection." After handing over two knives kept in two different coats, Piggin added: "I'd better give you these. I've been experimenting."
Police recovered a number of weapons including a knife inscribed with a swastika and the words "blood and honour", a machete with a £12.95 price tag attached, three throwing knives, a green ammunition box, a number of air rifles, BB guns, a crossbow and a gun holster. Police recovered a number of weapons, including a knife inscribed with a swastika and the words "blood and honour", a machete with a £12.95 price tag attached, three throwing knives, a green ammunition box, a number of air rifles, BB guns, a crossbow and a gun holster.
The Columbine high school massacre in which Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold murdered 12 students and one teacher in Colorado in 1999 was one of America's worst mass shootings. The Columbine high school massacre, in which Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold murdered 12 students and one teacher in Colorado in 1999, was one of America's worst mass shootings.
Piggin, who has Asperger's syndrome, denies a charge of possessing items for the purpose, preparation and instigation of an act of terrorism. The items include partially assembled petrol and pipe bombs, partially constructed improvised explosive devices (IEDs), a stab-proof vest and gas mask, air rifles, pistols, ammunition and a notebook containing information about the planning and construction of explosive devices found at his home. Piggin, who has Asperger's syndrome, denies a charge of possessing items for the purpose, preparation and instigation of an act of terrorism. The items include partially assembled petrol and pipe bombs, partially constructed improvised explosive devices (IEDs), a stab-proof vest and gas mask, air rifles, pistols, ammunition, and a notebook containing information about the planning and construction of explosive devices found at his home.
Piggin, who sat in the dock with an intermediary, also denies possessing a document or record containing information likely to be useful for a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.Piggin, who sat in the dock with an intermediary, also denies possessing a document or record containing information likely to be useful for a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.
He and two other teenagers, who cannot be named, have already pleaded guilty to charges of possessing petrol bombs and component parts of pipe bombs for the use of explosive devices. Piggin has also admitted possessing the component parts for IEDs.He and two other teenagers, who cannot be named, have already pleaded guilty to charges of possessing petrol bombs and component parts of pipe bombs for the use of explosive devices. Piggin has also admitted possessing the component parts for IEDs.
The trial continues.The trial continues.