Terror-accused teenager hailed balaclava-clad gunmen ‘coming to England soon'
Alfie Coleman was aged 19 when he was arrested by counter terrorism police in a Morrisons car park moments after picking up a Makarov pistol and ammunition on September 29 2023.
Just days before, on September 17 2023, Coleman engaged in encrypted chat on Wire about the Troubles in Northern Ireland, the Old Bailey heard on Wednesday.
He posted a picture of a man armed with an automatic gun and wearing a balaclava with people standing on either side in the street alongside the caption: 'Coming soon here my man.'
Cross-examining, prosecutor Nicholas De La Poer QC said: 'You were saying before too long terrorists, men in balaclavas carrying automatic weapons, would be walking through the streets of England and people would be supportive of it.'
Coleman told jurors: 'At face value that's what it seems like. I don't remember why I said it.'
After posting the image, Coleman went on to write: 'I do not think we will have outward support like they had.
'All we would need is for people to look the other way. Only way that can be achieved is by people being more scared of us than the cops so they do not say what they see.'
Mr De La Poer suggested Coleman was referring to himself and 'other militant accelerationists', a form of right-wing extremism.
The defendant replied: 'Putting two and two together it could be interpreted in that way. Me and other like-minded people. I do not remember this conversation.'
The prosecutor went on: 'You are talking about being part of a group that terrifies the civilian population, aren't you?'
Coleman said: 'That's what the message says but I do not remember this conversation.'
He went on to deny that his interest in history and weaponry was focused on Nazi Germany, the Second World War and other areas of interest to the extreme right wing.
Asked about his own 'manifesto' setting out beliefs and grievances, Coleman told jurors: 'This is me having pretty bad intrusive thoughts and me writing stuff that is going on in my head. This is the extent, to me. I never intended it to be shared with anyone.'
The defendant was asked about a slogan stating: 'Save the bees, plant more trees, clean the seas, shoot refugees.'
Coleman denied being an 'eco-fascist' but accepted he held those views at the time and he saw them as 'linked'.
He was asked about his possession of the manifesto of extreme right-wing terrorist Brenton Tarrant, who stormed two mosques in New Zealand and killed 51 people in 2019.
Coleman declined to say that he too viewed himself as an 'ethno-nationalist', saying that he did not like to 'put a label on things'.
Mr De La Poer pressed: 'You did view there being a link between whatever extreme right-wing views you held and the environment?'
The defendant replied: 'My interest in the environment and participation in group chat are two distinct things.'
Coleman has accepted having a significant quantity of extreme right-wing material and has pleaded guilty to possessing 10 documents which contain information likely to be useful to terrorists.
He does not dispute writing a text bearing similarities to 'manifestos' written by convicted extreme right-wing terrorists nor that he engaged in chat on Telegram and Wire with people who proclaimed extreme right-wing views and idolised Hitler, jurors have heard.
The defendant, now aged 21, from Great Notley in Essex, has admitted attempting to possess both a firearm and ammunition but denies he was preparing for a terrorist attack.
The Old Bailey trial continues.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
12 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Girl, four, dies in hospital after 'incident' at Waterworld
A four-year-old girl has died following an incident at a swimming pool in Waterworld today. Paramedics rushed to the scene at Waterworld on Festival Way in Hanley, Staffordshire, amid reports a child was in critical condition. Both West Midlands Ambulance Service and Waterworld staff treated the youngster before taking her to hospital for further care. But, despite best efforts of medical staff, the young girl died a shortly afterwards. The child's next of kin have been informed and are currently being supported by specially-trained officers. Detective Chief Inspector Lucy Maskew from Staffordshire Police said: 'Our thoughts are with the family at this terribly sad time. 'We are now making enquiries and looking to establish the circumstances of the incident. 'We would ask that members of the public avoid speculating in these early stages of the investigation and allow the family to grieve.' A Waterworld spokesperson said: 'It is with great sadness that we learned of this little girl's passing this evening. 'All our thoughts are with her family and loved ones during these extremely difficult times. 'Waterworld is in shock and has decided to remain closed tomorrow out of respect for the family. Waterworld is working closely with the authorities at this sad time.' Staffordshire Police are urging any witnesses or anyone with knowledge to contact them by calling 101 quoting incident number 460 of August 4.
Daily Mail
12 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Mother of tortured toddler Baby P to face public parole hearing as she makes fresh bid for freedom
The mother of tortured toddler Baby P will have her fresh bid for freedom heard by a public parole board - after a judge cited a 'substantial public interest' in the case. Tracey Connelly, now 44, is set to make her plea over the course of October 22 and 23 at an unconfirmed venue. It will mark the abuser's first review since her second recall to prison in August last year for breaching her licence conditions. Connelly was jailed in 2009 for causing or allowing the death of her 17-month son Peter at their home in Tottenham, north London, August 3, 2007. She sought, alongside her lover Steven Barker and his brother Jason Owen, to cover up the injuries inflicted on the youngster - missed by social service and health workers. Little Peter suffered more than 50 wounds over and eight-month period. These included a broken back, broken ribs, mutilated fingertips, and missing fingernails. Tracey Connelly was initially released in 2013 but was later recalled to prison in 2015 for breaching her parole conditions. She was released again in July 2022 after the parole board had rejected three previous bids in 2015, 2017 and 2019 -it was heard she was considered to be at 'low risk of committing a further offence' and that probation officers and prison officials supported the plan. But after being called back to prison again in August last year - over breached licence conditions - Connelly will now face a review. The Parole Board received two applications for October's review to be held in public, which described Connelly's 'landmark case' as 'one of the most high-profile and devastating child protection failures in UK history' that 'permanently altered the conversation around safeguarding', according to Judge Peter Rook KC's judgment. It was argued the public still does not have access to the 'real details', citing that previous decisions around parole and recall have been made in private and a public hearing would 'provide crucial context to a case that remains deeply significant to the public'. A lawyer for Connelly argued against the hearing being made public, saying it poses a risk to her safety and that there is a 'high risk' her identity will be compromised as 'threats to her safety are real and current'. The legal representative also said Connelly has suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression, and that a public hearing will 'exacerbate' these issues and have a 'significant and detrimental effect' on her evidence at the parole hearing. But Judge Rook, on behalf of the chair of the Parole Board, said the lawyer acknowledged Connelly 'recovers well from these events'. According to his judgment, Connelly experienced 'offence-related bullying and aggression' after her recall to prison which 'led to a decline in her mental health' but the judge said she reportedly responded well, without resorting to violence, and has now 'stabilised'. Granting the application for October's hearing to be held in public, the judge said: 'There can be no doubt that there is a substantial public interest in this case. 'There is a strong public interest in the extent that Ms Connelly currently presents a risk and, if so, what measures are proposed in order to manage it.' He added that a public hearing could 'reassure' the public of the 'thoroughness' of the Parole Board's risk assessment and the probation resources which would be supervising her in the event of her release. 'This may go some way to address legitimate public concern about Ms Connelly,' judge Rook said. Permission for Connelly to leave prison in 2022 came despite the Parole Board panel highlighting concerns over her ability to manipulate and deceive, and hearing evidence of how she had become embroiled in prison romances and traded secret love letters with an inmate. Then-justice secretary Dominic Raab appealed against the decision, but a judge rejected his bid to keep her behind bars. Condemning the move, Mr Raab said at the time this was proof the parole system needs a 'fundamental overhaul'. When Connolly was first released, she was made subject to 20 licence conditions, including having to wear an electronic tag and disclose all her relationships, having her internet use monitored or obeying curfew. She was also banned from going to certain places to 'avoid contact with victims and to protect children'. The Parole Board said that she had been cleared due to a low risk of reoffending and that probation officers and prison officials supported the plan. It will now be a matter for the Board to decide if the latest breach of her conditions was so serious that she should not be released. A Parole Board spokesman said back in April: 'It's been directed to an oral hearing now but no hearing date has been set yet.' Baby Peter's family had a violent history, with a report in the aftermath of the toddler's death concluding there were 'striking similarities' in 'patterns of care and abuse experience by Tracey Connelly' and those endured by the toddler.
Daily Mail
12 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Sir Keir Starmer calls for police to be 'as transparent as possible' over ethnicity of sex offence suspects: PM forced to step in as Nigel Farage leads fury over 'cover-up of alleged attack on girl, 1
Sir Keir Starmer has called for the police to be as 'transparent as possible' about the ethnicity of suspected sex offenders. The Prime Minister was forced to respond on Monday after Nigel Farage's demanded that police disclose the backgrounds of those charged with rape and sexual assault. It comes after the Mail on Sunday revealed that two Afghan asylum seekers have been charged in connection with the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton, Warwickshire. In a press conference on Monday, the Reform UK leader accused police of a 'cover-up' for failing to divulge the ethnicity or immigration status of the two men. He warned that it was 'reminiscent' of speculation about the background of the Southport killer last year which triggered a wave of conspiracy theories and riots last summer. Appearing alongside him, the 19-year-old Reform leader of Warwickshire County Council said he had 'begged' the police force to release details of the men's backgrounds. George Finch claimed he had been told he could not release information about the men's background himself 'due to this phrase 'community cohesion'.' Mr Farage's intervention prompted Downing Street to tell the police to be as 'transparent as possible' when it came to revealing the ethnicity of people charged with offences. Sir Keir Starmer (pictured) has called for the police to be as 'transparent as possible' about the ethnicity of suspected sex offenders. The Prime Minister's spokesman said the Government had 'always said, and continues to say, that transparency is important' The Prime Minister was forced to respond on Monday after Nigel Farage's demanded that police disclose the backgrounds of those charged with rape and sexual assault. In a press conference on Monday, the Reform UK leader accused police of a 'cover-up' The Prime Minister's spokesman said the Government had 'always said, and continues to say, that transparency is important'. He said the case in Nuneaton was 'clearly a deeply upsetting and distressing case, which the public are right to feel shocked and angry about.' 'Our position is that all authorities, from the police up to central government, should be as transparent as possible when handling these cases,' he added. Mr Farage said on Monday that it was 'absolutely disgraceful' that the police had not informed the public that the men were Afghan asylum seekers. Ahmad Mulakhil, 23, was charged with rape and Mohammad Kabir, also 23, was charged with aiding and abetting an assault, as well as strangulation and kidnapping. The Reform leader said that the backgrounds of suspects charged with sexual assault and rape should be shared with the public. 'Our position is that all authorities, from the police up to central government, should be as transparent as possible when handling these cases,' he said. 'Given there's a pretty febrile atmosphere... particularly [around] sexual assaults and rapes, where the temperature on this debate has risen significantly... I do believe they should [disclose suspects' ethnicities].' Mr Farage said on Monday that it was 'absolutely disgraceful' that the police had not informed the public that the men were Afghan asylum seekers. The Reform leader said that the backgrounds of suspects charged with sexual assault and rape should be shared publicly The PM's spokesman said the case in Nuneaton (pictured) was 'clearly a deeply upsetting and distressing case, which the public are right to feel shocked and angry about' Sir Keir has responded to Nigel Farage's warning that a 'police cover-up was 'reminiscent' of speculation about the background of the Southport killer last year which triggered a wave of conspiracy theories and riots last summer He warned that failing to disclose these details could lead to a repeat of the riots which happened in the wake of the murders of three children last year. 'What caused unrest on our streets after Southport last year was us not being told the status of the attacker,' he said. 'That led to crazy conspiracy theories spreading online.' The aftermath of the murder of three young girls at a Taylor Swift-themed event by Axel Rudakubana a year ago sparked riots across the country. The unrest was fuelled by conspiracy theories and speculation on social media that the suspect was an illegal migrant. Jonathan Hall, the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, later said that the failure to share basic facts had led to 'dangerous fictions' which caused the riots. Warwickshire Police has defended its position on the Nuneaton case, stating: 'We follow national guidance,' adding that this does not extend to 'sharing ethnicity or immigration status'. 'Where relevant, sensitive information around locations, details of the crime and policing activity to catch offenders can be shared, with a warning that this is sensitive or confidential information and disclosure by those being briefed could affect future court hearings,' it said. Appearing alongside Farage, George Finch (pictured), the 19-year-old Reform leader of Warwickshire County Council said he had 'begged' the police force to release details of the men's backgrounds. but that police refused 'due to this phrase "community cohesion".' During the press conference, Mr Farage also revealed the defection of Rupert Matthews (pictured) , the Tory police and crime commissioner for Leicestershire The guidance is issued by the Royal College of Policing and covers what details should be released to media but does not mention details of race, ethnicity or immigration status. Mr Finch, the 19-year-old council leader, told the press conference that he had been 'begging' for information about the men to be released. He said he had emailed the council's chief executive to urge them to release information about the men's immigration status. He said he also wrote to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and the chief constable of Warwickshire Police calling for the immediate release of their immigration status. In it, he claimed that a 'cover-up' of the men's background 'risks public disorder breaking out on the streets of Warwickshire'. 'Having my ear to the ground locally, it is clear that there is much appetite for protests to take place across the county,' the letter adds. During the press conference, Mr Farage also revealed the defection of Rupert Matthews, the Tory police and crime commissioner for Leicestershire. The former Tory MEP and party member for 40 years left the party because he said Britain needed to cut the 'dark heart of wokeness' out of the criminal justice system. The author of various books on ghosts and UFOs becomes the party's first police and crime commissioner.
