Terror-accused discussed torturing imams
One of three men accused of planning terrorist attacks discussed torturing a Muslim leader using an "information extraction kit", a court has heard.Brogan Stewart spoke of his thinking with an undercover police officer on a social media app, Sheffield Crown Court was told on Thursday.The jury had earlier heard Mr Stewart, 25, from West Yorkshire, Christopher Ringrose, 34, from Staffordshire, and Marco Pitzettu, 25, from Derbyshire, were "right-wing extremists" preparing to use firearms, explosives and blades in attacks.All three deny a charge of preparing acts of terrorism and charges of collecting information likely to be useful to a person preparing or committing an act of terrorism.
Mr Ringrose also denies manufacturing a prohibited weapon.
'Syringe with bleach'
Jonathan Sandiford KC, prosecuting, told the court that Mr Stewart said to the undercover officer, who he called "Blackheart", that they needed to establish a "new einsatzgruppe" - a reference to Adolf Hitler's SS death squad.On the Telegram social media app, the defendant explained to the officer how he had what he called an "information extraction kit", which included a blowtorch, pliers, gaffer tape, a screwdriver, bleach and a syringe.Mr Stewart had detailed torturing victims such as "local imams" and added nothing "loosened up" people "like seeing a syringe filled with bleach", Mr Sandiford said.The prosecutor also explained how Mr Stewart had set up a group called Einsatz 14, with him as "Fuhrer" and Blackheart as the "Obergruppenfuhrer", which the other two defendants also joined.
'Extort rivals'
Mr Sandiford said that when Blackheart asked him about the group's ideology, Mr Stewart replied: "Personally, I've taken inspiration from the SS."He said Mr Stewart, from Tingley, near Leeds, added: "I also hope we can extort political rivals and potentially plan operations to meet migrants landing on our beaches and deal with them."The court heard that Mr Stewart sent the undercover officer a list of "standard uniform" for the group, which included a Black SS helmet, "mask, balaclava, skull face mask or anything to hide identity", as well as a swastika armband.Jurors were told by Mr Sandiford that the three men were arrested after security services believed an attack could be imminent.Mr Ringrose had begun to build a 3D-printed semi-automatic firearm and was trying to acquire the remaining parts, the prosecutor said.The trial continues.
Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Spectator
7 hours ago
- Spectator
How many countries have banned the burqa?
Behind the veil How many countries have banned the burqa? At least 24 have placed some restrictions around the wearing of full-face coverings in public, although in most cases it applies only in public buildings. Interestingly, they encompass liberal democracies and dictatorships, Muslim-dominated and non Muslim-dominated countries. They are: Algeria, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chad, China, Denmark, France (general ban in public), Gabon, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Turkey and Uzbekistan. In Afghanistan, the wearing of a burqa or niqab (which has a slit for the eyes) is compulsory for women. Degrees of separation Is it still worth going to university? – In 2024 the median salary for graduates of working age was £42,000, up £2,000 from 2023. The median salary for non-graduates was £30,500. – However, graduate salaries have not kept pace with inflation. In 2007 the median graduate salary was £30,000. At 2007 prices the median graduate salary is now £26,500. – 88% of working-age graduates are in employment, compared with 68% of non-graduates. – 68% are in highly skilled employment, compared with 24% of non-graduates. – Students starting a full-time undergraduate course in September will take out an average of £49,470 in student loans. Interest will be levied at the rate of RPI inflation and borrowers will be liable to repay 9% of their salary over £25,000 for up to 40 years. Source: Department for Education Mine own Nigel Farage said a Reform UK government would reopen coal mines. How much coal does the UK produce and how much coal is there potentially to exploit? – In 2024 the UK produced just 107,000 tons of coal, down 99% in ten years. – Yet according to analysis by coal industry trade body Euracoal in 2015 there are 3.56bn tons of known coal resources lying unexploited beneath Britain, with a further 184bn tons estimated to exist. – In 2015, Britain's annual energy consumption – in all forms – was the equivalent of 257m tons. – Therefore, known coal reserves would be sufficient to provide Britain's entire energy needs for just under 14 years, and estimated reserves enough to provide Britain's entire energy needs for around 730 years.
Wales Online
16 hours ago
- Wales Online
Hate graffiti daubed on building due to be converted into mosque
Hate graffiti daubed on building due to be converted into mosque The incident occurred just weeks after a council granted a 30-year lease to the local Muslim Community Association Abergavenny's former library was defaced with graffiti (Image: Gareth Wilde ) A Grade-II listed building that was set to become a Welsh county's first mosque has been defaced with religious symbols and anti-Muslim graffiti in an act that one resident described as "a dark stain on us all". Police are treating the incident as a hate crime. Spray-painted Christian crosses and the words "No Masjid" were discovered on the former Abergavenny library just weeks after the council's Labour-led cabinet agreed to grant a 30-year lease to Monmouthshire Muslim Community Association (MMCA). The group, a not-for-profit organisation, intends to convert the building into the county's first mosque and community centre, serving the needs of Monmouthshire's growing and diverse Muslim population. The incident has been widely condemned by local residents and faith leaders as a shocking display of religious intolerance in a town known for its history of peaceful dissent and diversity. Read the biggest stories in Wales first by signing up to our daily newsletter here. The building, located in the town centre, has been out of use as a library since 2015 after services were moved to Abergavenny Town Hall. Since then it has housed several council-run services including adult education and most recently the pupil referral unit (PRU) for children unable to attend mainstream education. Article continues below The PRU has now relocated to new premises at Old Hereford Road leaving the building vacant once again. In May the council awarded the lease to MMCA citing the association's clear demonstration of local need. Abergavenny has the highest number of Muslims in Monmouthshire, which currently has no mosques. In contrast Cardiff has 24 mosques while Newport has eight and Swansea has seven. The former Abergavenny library building was set to become Monmouthshire's first mosque (Image: Google ) Since 2021 MMCA has been holding Friday congregational prayers at St Michael's Community Centre with the support of trustees from Our Lady and St Michael's parish. Their presence has grown steadily and they have also collaborated with schools and youth groups to promote interfaith understanding. Andrew Lewis, a local resident, welcomed their work and said: "The Muslim community locally have been doing some great community events. "I can only see that increasing with having their own dedicated community space. We have had them talking with Scouts as part of the World Faiths badge and I went to a Ramadan celebration and education evening at Crickhowell High School." Although the cabinet decision was approved, three councillors called in the lease agreement for review following concerns raised members of the community. The review meeting was scheduled to take place on Wednesday, June 11, at Monmouthshire County Hall in Usk. The vandalism, which occurred just a day before that review, has triggered anger and soul-searching in the community. "I am disgusted at the vandals who have used a precious Christian symbol to object to a former library being used for Muslims to worship in our town," said Reverend Gareth Wilde, an accredited Baptist minister. "Abergavenny has a rich, peaceful history of non-conformist dissent from the 17th century where its adherents fought for religious freedom for those who didn't follow the established Church of England. "These would include Baptists, Congregationalists, Presbyterian and various other chapel-attending congregations. "Muslims are only asking to be treated with the same equality and respect and if anything should be prioritised above Christian churches wishing to use a community facility. "As an accredited Baptist minister I wholeheartedly agree with the MCC decision to let the Carnegie Library to Monmouthshire Muslim Community Association. Please be kind to Muslims in Wales." Another saddened resident said: "Never thought I'd see this in Abergavenny. A very sad day. We need to respect and understand everyone's beliefs and peacefully coexist in a society that has so much freedom." One local added: "I always thought that Abergavenny was a tolerant caring community and hopefully this abhorrent graffiti was perpetrated by some hateful person outside of our community. It remains a dark stain on us all. "This is no different from the religious persecution shown by the Nazis to the Jewish communities in the 1930s. Previous generations made a supreme sacrifice to overcome this kind of inhumanity. "It saddens me that the gross transgressions of the past are rearing their ugly head again." In response to the incident a sign has been placed over the graffiti reading: "What unites us is big + beautiful, what divides us is small + MEAN!" A Gwent Police spokesman said: 'We received a call at about 8.45am on Tuesday, June 10, reporting criminal damage after graffiti had been sprayed on the old library in Abergavenny overnight. 'This has now been cleaned off and we are treating it as a hate crime.' Inspector Emma Sowrey said: 'We have been carrying out onquiries to identify those responsible including house-to-house and reviewing CCTV. So far we've been able to establish that the damage happened at about 3am on June 10. 'I understand the concern that may be felt amongst our communities following this appalling incident which we are treating as a hate crime. 'We will not tolerate any such behaviour and are determined to identify the offenders and bring them to justice.' Anyone with any information is asked to call Gwent Police on 101 quoting 2500182567. You can also send a direct message on Facebook or X or online here. Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or visit Article continues below Monmouthshire County Council has been approached for comment.
Belfast Telegraph
19 hours ago
- Belfast Telegraph
Russian attacks kill three as drones hit Kharkiv and other parts of Ukraine
One of the hardest-hit areas was the city of Kharkiv in north-eastern Ukraine, where 17 attack drones struck two residential districts, mayor Ihor Terekhov said. Emergency crews, municipal workers and volunteers worked through the night to extinguish fires, rescue residents from burning homes, and restore gas, electricity and water services. 'Those are ordinary sites of peaceful life — those that should never be targeted,' Mr Terekhov wrote on Telegram. Three people were confirmed killed, according to Kharkiv regional head Oleh Syniehubov. In a statement, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said that 64 people had been wounded and re-iterated his calls for greater international pressure on Moscow. 'Every new day now brings new vile Russian attacks, and almost every strike is telling,' he said. 'We must not be afraid or postpone new decisions that could make things more difficult for Russia. Without this, they will not engage in genuine diplomacy. And this depends primarily on the United States and other world leaders. Everyone who has called for an end to the killings and for diplomacy must act.' Kharkiv has been frequently targeted in recent months as Russia launched repeated large-scale drone and missile attacks on civilian infrastructure. Moscow's forces have launched waves of drones and missiles in recent days, with a record bombardment of almost 500 drones on Monday and a wave of 315 drones and seven missiles overnight on Tuesday. The attacks come despite discussions of a potential ceasefire in the war. The two sides traded memorandums at direct peace talks in Istanbul on June 2 that set out conditions. However, the inclusion of clauses that both sides see as non-starters make any quick deal unlikely. Wednesday's strikes also caused widespread destruction in Kharkiv's Slobidskyi and Osnovianskyi districts, hitting apartment buildings, private homes, playgrounds, industrial sites and public transportation. Images from the scene published by Ukraine's Emergency Service on Telegram showed burning apartments, shattered windows and firefighters battling the blaze. 'We stand strong. We help one another. And we will endure,' Mr Terekhov said. 'Kharkiv is Ukraine. And it cannot be broken.' Ukraine's air force said that 85 attack and decoy drones were fired over the country overnight. Air defence systems intercepted 40 of the drones, while nine more failed to reach their targets without causing damage. In other developments, Russia has returned 1,212 bodies of Ukrainian soldiers in line with an agreement reached during the talks in Istanbul between Russian and Ukrainian delegations. Ukraine's Coordination Headquarters for Treatment of Prisoners of War said that the bodies came from Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions, as well as Russia's Kursk region where Ukrainian forces waged an incursion. It said that authorities would work to determine their identities as quickly as possible.
