EDL-Supporting Neo-Nazi Teenager Planned Repeat Of Columbine Massacre, Court Hears

EDL-Supporting Neo-Nazi Teenager Planned Repeat Of Columbine Massacre, Court Hears
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A neo-Nazi teenager armed with guns and explosives planned a repeat of the Columbine massacre by carrying out a terror attack on his former school, a court has heard.

The English Defence League supporter, who was 16 at the time, stockpiled petrol bombs, air rifles, pistols and armour at his home which he planned to use against staff and pupils at the school in Loughborough, Leicestershire, it is alleged.

The teenager, who has Asperger's syndrome, also named his college, a local mosque, a cinema, Loughborough University and the town's council offices as potential targets, the Old Bailey heard.

A Che Guevara notebook emblazoned with Nazi swastikas and English Defence League (EDL) mottos was found when his home was searched by police in February, the jury was told.

He scrawled the mantra "When order fails, violence prevails" in his notebook, as well as "EDL: No Surrender" and "British and Proud."

Prosecutor Max Hill QC said other parts of the book contain rantings against Muslims, calling for mass deportation to 'stop the spread of Sharia law'.

'He is talking about British and European people rising up and fighting Islamic fascism that is sweeping the world', said Mr Hill.

'He is a member of the EDL Leicester division and a supporter of the Knights Templar, which we suggest are far right wing British National movements.'

The boy's notebook included drawings showing how he would arm himself and discussed tactics to carry out The New Columbine, the court heard.

Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold murdered 12 students and one teacher at Columbine High School in Colorado in 1999 before both committing suicide in one of America's worst mass shootings.

Mujahideen Poisons Handbook was also found in the defendant's home along with video and dictaphone recordings in which he discussed an attack, the prosecution claimed.

Mr Hill said the jury must consider whether the boy, who had a Nazi flag above his bed, was a "misfit" or "something altogether more sinister and serious".

"Is that child's play? Is it harmless? Or is it something more sinister?" he said.

The defendant, who can not be named for legal reasons, denies a charge of possessing items for the purpose, preparation and instigation of an act of terrorism.

They include nine partially assembled petrol bombs, a quantity of commercial firework powder, a quantity of part-assembled pipe bombs, partially constructed improvised explosive devices (IEDs), quantities of commercial pyrotechnic fuse cords, a stab proof vest, a gas mask, three 0.22 air rifles, one Olympic 0.22 blank-firing pistol and a quantity of ammunition, one 0.22 air pistol, three BB guns, a black military belt containing air gun pellets and a silver cartridge, and one note book containing information about the planning and construction of explosive devices, it is alleged.

The boy also denies one count of possessing a document or record containing information likely to be useful for a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, and a further count of possessing explosives in the form of component parts of IEDs.

The boy, dressed in a black t-shirt and wearing glasses, sat in the dock with an intermediary court officer.

He and two other 17-year-old boys have already pleaded guilty to two charges of possessing petrol bombs and component parts of pipe bombs for the use of explosive devices

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