Neo-Nazi teen jailed for six years over plot to attack sites including shuls
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Neo-Nazi teen jailed for six years over plot to attack sites including shuls

17-year-old drafted far-right manifesto which listed 'areas to attack' in Durham, and wrote of a plan to conduct an arson spree with Molotov cocktails against local synagogues.

A teenager from Durham said to have been influenced by the group was convicted of planning a terrorist attack in the UK in January. Pictured is his 'manifesto' shown to a jury at Manchester Crown Court. (Photo credit: Counter Terrorism Police North East/PA Wire)
A teenager from Durham said to have been influenced by the group was convicted of planning a terrorist attack in the UK in January. Pictured is his 'manifesto' shown to a jury at Manchester Crown Court. (Photo credit: Counter Terrorism Police North East/PA Wire)

A teenage neo-Nazi from Durham who planned to torch local synagogues using Molotov cocktails has been jailed for more than six years.

The 17-year old youth was sentenced this week after being found guilty of drawing up a terrorist hit-list including schools and council buildings, and of researching weapons such as knives, guns and explosives.

Jurors at Manchester Crown Court had earlier heard how the young extremist had accessed a vast collection of far-right literature before officers seized his phone and computer equipment in March last year, during his arrest.

Photo issued by Counter Terrorism Police North East of a sketch drawn by a 16 year old which was shown to a jury at Manchester Crown Court. The teenage neo-Nazi who listed venues in his home city “worth attacking” will be sentenced on Tuesday for preparing to commit terrorist acts. (Photo credit: Counter Terrorism Police North East/PA Wire )

Synagogues were listed under an ‘Areas to Attack’ section in his own “manifesto”.

In court he said he had no intention of carrying out any attacks, arguing that his far-right persona was for “shock value” only, but the jury didn’t believe him.

He was found guilty of preparation of terrorist acts between October 2017 and March 2019, disseminating a terrorist publication, possessing an article for a purpose connected with terrorism, and three counts of possessing a document or record containing information likely to be useful to a terrorist. He was sentenced to six years and eight months.

Mark Gardner, Director of Communications at the Community Security Trust said: “This is yet another example of possible terrorism from British neo-Nazis. It is important that our community realises the scale of the threat that is now posed by such people.”

Photo issued by Counter Terrorism Police North East of a list of firearms to buy belonging to a 16 year old which was shown to a jury at Manchester Crown Court. The teenage neo-Nazi who listed venues in his home city “worth attacking” will be sentenced on Tuesday for preparing to commit terrorist acts. (Photo credit: Counter Terrorism Police North East/PA Wire)
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