Teenager ‘professed love' to American neo-Nazi before being charged with terror offences
A schoolgirl declared her love for the American neo-Nazi who radicalised her before being charged with terrorism offences, an inquest has heard.
Rhianan Rudd was 14 when she was charged after downloading a guide to make a pipe bomb. She had told school friends of her desire to blow up a synagogue and had become 'fixated' with Adolf Hitler.
Rhianan, from Chesterfield in Derbyshire, was found dead in a children's home in May 2022, five months after the charges against her were dropped.
An inquest into her death, at the age of 16, heard she exchanged messages with Christopher Cook, a teenage white supremacist, through communications platform Discord.
Cook, now aged 23, was subsequently convicted in the US of plotting attacks on the American power grid and sentenced to seven years in prison in 2023.
Emily Carter, Rhianan's mother, maintains that authorities, including MI5, counter-terrorism police and social services, failed to treat her daughter as a victim of exploitation by extremists.
The inquest at Chesterfield Coroners' Court heard how Rhianan began an online relationship with Cook in 2020.
Following the schoolgirl's arrest in October 2020, social worker Paige McMahon recorded that the teenager had been 'significantly radicalised' by men who had 'groomed Rhianan and influenced her extremist views'.
She wrote: 'Rhianan ... is likely to suffer significant harm if things do not change.'
Notes made by Ms McMahon of a meeting with Rhianan and her mother recorded: 'Emily said Rhianan stated she was speaking to someone online called Chris who was 17 and shared similar views to him.
'They then discovered he was on a terror watch list. Rhianan found this funny and said she told her mother about this.
'They told each other that they loved one another and that they had spoken a lot online,' she added.
Mother asked police to help
The inquest heard that Ms Carter had asked police for help in September 2020, warning them that her daughter had developed an 'unhealthy outlook on fascism'.
Rhianan was arrested the following month after carving a swastika into her forehead so others 'could see her beliefs', and charged under the terrorism act in December 2020.
Ms McMahon also recorded that Rhianan's brother, Brandon, noticed a 'massive change' in his sister after talking to Cook.
The inquest was also told how social services spoke with Ms Carter about her former partner Dax Mallaburn, a convicted American neo-Nazi who had been living at the family home in Bolsover, Derbyshire.
Mallaburn, who met Ms Carter through a prisoner pen-pal scheme while serving a jail sentence in the US, had a swastika tattooed on his arm.
Ms McMahon's notes, made to consider whether Rhianan should be the subject of a child protection plan, read: 'Dax had nothing to do with Rhianan or her views. He would tell Rhianan 'no' a lot.
'Emily said Rhianan wouldn't listen. Emily said his particular views were from when he was in prison years ago. They are not the same anymore since he has been out.
'Dax is the only one who can connect to Rhianan. If she starts doing stuff he will say no and she will stop.'
Ms Carter told the social worker that Mallaburn 'did not support' Rhianan's views, adding: 'He did have a swastika tattooed on his arm but this was to do with politics in prison and he had changed a lot upon his release.'
Terrorism charges against Rhianan were dropped in December 2021 after the Home Office concluded the teenager had been a victim of exploitation.
By then, she had already been removed from school and placed at Bluebell House, a children's home in Nottinghamshire, where she remained until her death.
A social worker described Rhianan as 'deeply scared' about a potential prison sentence and 'fixated' on the idea that she was going to jail.
The inquest was told that while at the home, Rhianan had self-harmed and expressed suicidal thoughts.
Earlier in the inquest, Ms Carter described her daughter as a 'kind and loving child' who had been manipulated by extremists.
'I saw Rhianan change,' she said. 'This had a great impact on her and I did all I felt was right by her. Rhianan in total was one of the kindest, most loving children I had ever had the honour to know.'
The inquest is hearing evidence from agencies including MI5, the Crown Prosecution Service, and the police.
Some material relating to MI5's involvement with Rhianan before she took her own life is being withheld on security grounds.
The inquest continues.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Leader Live
22 minutes ago
- Leader Live
First female chief to take reins of secret service MI6
Blaise Metreweli, a career intelligence officer who currently serves as director of technology at the organisation, will become the 18th chief in the organisation's 116-year history. She will take over from Sir Richard Moore, a senior civil servant who will step down in the autumn after five years in the role. Commonly referred to as C, the chief has operational responsibility for MI6, and is the only publicly named member of the organisation. Despite Dame Judi Dench playing M, the fictional head of the secret service in the James Bond films, there has never been a woman in charge of the organisation in real life. Earlier this year, Sir Richard, who was the first member of MI6 to openly use X, formerly Twitter, suggested a female candidate could replace him. 'We have yet to have a woman as chief so there's still a glass ceiling to shatter. #AccelerateAction,' he wrote in a post on the social media site. Ms Metreweli first joined the service as a case officer in 1999 and has carried out operational roles in the Middle East and Europe. In her new post, she will be accountable to the Foreign Secretary. The Prime Minister said: 'The historic appointment of Blaise Metreweli comes at a time when the work of our intelligence services has never been more vital. 'The United Kingdom is facing threats on an unprecedented scale, be it aggressors who send their spy ships to our waters or hackers whose sophisticated cyber plots seek to disrupt our public services. 'I'd like to thank Sir Richard Moore for his dedicated service, and I know Blaise will continue to provide the excellent leadership needed to defend our county and keep our people safe – the foundation of my Plan for Change.' Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: 'I am delighted to appoint Blaise Metreweli as the next chief of MI6. 'With a wealth of experience from across our national security community, Blaise is the ideal candidate to lead MI6 into the future. 'At a time of global instability and emerging security threats, where technology is power and our adversaries are working ever closer together, Blaise will ensure the UK can tackle these challenges head on to keep Britain safe and secure at home and abroad. 'Every day, our intelligence services work behind the scenes to protect our national security and compete with our adversaries. 'That's why I am proud that we are investing an extra £600 million in our intelligence community so they can continue to defend our way of life. 'I would also like to pay tribute to Sir Richard Moore for his service and leadership. 'I have worked closely with him over the past year and thank him for his valuable contribution enhancing our national security and protecting the British public.' Ms Metreweli said: 'I am proud and honoured to be asked to lead my service. 'MI6 plays a vital role, with MI5 and GCHQ, in keeping the British people safe and promoting UK interests overseas. 'I look forward to continuing that work alongside the brave officers and agents of MI6 and our many international partners.' Outgoing chief Sir Richard said: 'I am absolutely delighted by this historic appointment of my colleague, Blaise Metreweli to succeed me as 'C'. 'Blaise is a highly accomplished intelligence officer and leader, and one of our foremost thinkers on technology. 'I am excited to welcome her as the first female head of MI6.'
Scottish Sun
41 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
MI6 to get first female chief 30 years after Dame Judi Dench landed role in Bond movies
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MI6 is to get its first female chief — three decades after Dame Judi Dench landed the role in the 007 movies. Blaise Metreweli will lead the fight against rogue states such as Russia and China. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Blaise Metrewel, who becomes MI6's 18th chief, has also held roles in MI5, which deals with domestic security Credit: Supplied 2 The top job was portrayed by Dame Judi as 'M' in the James Bond films from 1995 Credit: Rex Features She begins in the autumn, having joined the intelligence services as a case officer in 1999. The top job was portrayed by Dame Judi as 'M' in the James Bond films from 1995. But the new chief will use the title 'C', as is service tradition. The Cambridge-educated spook is currently MI6 director general for technology — known as 'Q' in the Bond films and real life. MI6 is the UK's foreign intelligence service. Ms Metreweli, who becomes its 18th chief, has also held roles in MI5, which deals with domestic security. Only MI6's chief is ever publicly identified. She said last night: 'I am proud and honoured to be asked to lead my service.' She replaces Sir Richard Moore, who leaves after five years. Ms Metreweli has spent most of her career in operational roles in the Middle East and Europe. She said Russia poses an acute threat to the UK and described China as 'chronic'.
Spectator
5 hours ago
- Spectator
Minnesota is no longer the ‘state that works'
Fifty-two years ago, TIME magazine featured Governor Wendell Anderson on its cover, dressed in the state's unofficial uniform of a flannel shirt and large smile. He was on one of our 10,000 lakes, hoisting his catch of the day up in the air. This was 1973, and the headline read, 'The Good Life in Minnesota'. The story went on to describe Minnesota as the 'state that works'. Its people are mild-mannered do-gooders who are content with the reputation of being humble, hard-working, and unglamorous: 'California is the flashy blonde you like to take out once or twice. Minnesota is the girl you want to marry.' Five decades later, the state that worked no longer does. Just days after the state's 2025 legislative session ended, targeted political violence ended the lives of one state lawmaker and her husband and seriously injured two more people – a state senator and his wife. According to local news reports, 'State Rep. and Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman of Brooklyn Park and her husband, Mark, were killed early Saturday morning in what officials are calling 'targeted' attacks by a suspect posing as a law enforcement officer. State Sen. John Hoffman of Champlin and his wife, Yvette, were shot multiple times at their home but are recovering'. The suspect, who is still at large at the time of writing, has been identified by the Associated Press as 57-year-old Vance Boelter. It is unclear what the exact reasons are for the targeted attacks, but they are alleged to be politically motivated. It is not breaking news that modern politics has permeated much of the culture and forced deep ideological divides and tribes. Everything – from what car a person drives to the shops they buy groceries in and the music they listen to – is politicised. Politics, more than religious affiliation or cultural heritage, is most likely to form one's identity. And the divide has tested the very fabric of American society, family relations, and friendships. The Spectator World's editor-at-large Ben Domenech recently highlighted the trend: According to Cygnal's latest national survey of 1,500 likely voters (conducted 6–8 May, with a 3 per cent margin of error), more than half of voters (53 per cent) say 'it's at least somewhat common that their friends and neighbours have ended a friendship because of Donald Trump and the 2024 election', while '39 per cent say not that common or not at all common. Despite the 'Minnesota nice' image, a visible, vocal, dangerous ideological fringe has found, if not a home, a sympathetic ear with the political mainstream. Most Minnesotans had front-row seats to the destruction after George Floyd's death in 2020. Minneapolis and the Twin Cities still have not fully recovered from the psychological shock, nor the persistent unease that has prevented the state from moving forward with civility. When respect, and law and order, are cast aside by our leaders to score political points or to stoke emotional fires, generally, the people follow suit. Moreover, the hyperbolic messaging and one-upmanship rhetoric – 'othering' people of different political persuasions and labelling them as unredeemable villains in the fight for democracy – is a form of modern-day self-destruction. I have experienced that destruction first-hand: last year, my office in Golden Valley, Minnesota was firebombed. It was a politically motivated attack on our organisation and two others in the same building who work for conservative causes. It's the place where I brought my (now two-year-old) baby girl to work with me every day. Thankfully, no one was hurt. Yet it was barely a blip on the news. Debate, especially political debate, is crucial to sort out the myriad of nuances shaping our nation's policies and culture. But when unstable, unbearably radicalised people latch onto the unceasing firehose of the most intense and excessive political soliloquies – and when members of the media class take it all as fact – we have a problem. Because words aren't violence, but they do have power. Politicians flippantly use hyperbole and deranged rhetoric to appeal to their base's worst instincts, insisting that every step that strays towards compromise or compassion is the end of democracy. Those same politicians are often silent in the face of violence, which has a normalising effect. We've entered into an era of shoulder-shrugging at outrageous, anti-social behaviour: the kind we saw in LA last weekend, with cars set on fire in the name of social justice. None of this is an inevitability; it's a choice. After years of being on edge – due to rounds of rioting and violent protests at ground zero for the 'Summer of Love' – Minnesota is no longer what Governor Anderson described as 'remarkably civil'. Nor is any part of the country. The assassination of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, the attacks on the US Supreme Court, the murder of two young Israeli embassy staff members, the arson at Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's residence, and assassination attempts on President Trump suggest every corner of the country has lost its way. A state that was seen as a representative of the nation's best qualities now reflects its worst. It remains to be seen if what is broken can ever be fixed.
