Latest news with #CounterTerrorismPolicingNorthEast
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Nazi-worshipping trio's cache of swords and crossbows uncovered
A trio of Nazi-obsessed fanatics amassed a cache of swords, crossbows and a 3D-printed semi-automatic firearm in preparation for an attack on a mosque or a synagogue. Right-wing extremists Christopher Ringrose, 34, Marco Pitzettu, 25, and Brogan Stewart, 25, were found guilty of terrorism offences at Sheffield Crown Court on Wednesday. The men, who were part of a militant online group, claimed they were merely fantasists who never intended to carry out an attack. Credit: Counter Terrorism Policing North East However, the jury rejected their claims, and anti-terrorism detectives believe that if they had not been arrested, they would have carried out a mass casualty attack. A nine-week-long trial heard how the group, which had been infiltrated by undercover officers, idolised Hitler and the Nazis, shared racist slurs and glorified mass murderers. Ringrose had also 3D-printed most of the components of a semi-automatic firearm at the time of his arrest and was trying to get the remaining parts. Jurors were shown a video of a police firearms expert testing a completed version of the weapon to show it would have been viable. Opening the trial in March, Jonathan Sandiford KC, prosecuting, said: 'The prosecution say that these three defendants were Right-wing extremists who regarded themselves as National Socialists, or Nazis, and they supported the National Socialist movement in the UK, such as it is or indeed was.' He said the defendants followed a cause that embraced an admiration for Hitler, white supremacy, a 'hatred towards black and other non-white races', and glorification and admiration for mass killers who have targeted the black and Muslim community. The prosecutor told the jury that the defendants formed a group called Einsatz 14 in January 2024, with 'like-minded extremists' who wanted to 'go to war for their chosen cause'. He told the jury of seven men and five women that the men all held a 'belief that there must soon be a race war between the white and other races'. Credit: Counter Terrorism Policing North East Mr Sandiford said an undercover officer called Blackheart was also part of Einsatz 14 and was referred to as the 'Obergruppenführer'. Stewart developed a mission statement for the group that said its 'basic duties' were to 'target mosques, Islamic education centres and other similar locations'. The court heard the group discussed potential targets at the end of January 2024. The court heard Stewart sent Blackheart details of the Islamic education centre on Mexborough Road in Leeds, including a Google Maps image. Det Ch Supt James Dunkerley, head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, said the men had collected more than 200 weapons, including knives, swords, body armour and a stun gun. But he said that 'most concerning' was the fact they tried to acquire a gun and this led them to build a 3D-printed firearm. The officer said: 'We saw this building of a firearm, and we saw them then changing their conversation and an up-tick in their hatred and looking to identify a real-world target, which could have been talk of a synagogue, an Islamic institution, a mosque, education... 'When we saw that up-tick changing, and they were looking to come out into the real world, that's when we took the action to arrest them.' Mr Dunkerley said: 'That was a tipping point for us. The protection of the public was absolutely paramount, and this wasn't some fantasy.' He added: 'If they took that 3D-printed firearm onto the streets and discharged it, it would kill somebody.' Bethan David, head of the Crown Prosecution Service's Counter Terrorism Division, said: 'These extremists were plotting violent acts of terrorism against synagogues, mosques and an Islamic education centre. By their own admission, they were inspired by SS tactics and supremacist ideology. 'Had Christopher Ringrose managed to completely finish building the 3D-printed semi-automatic firearm that he had started, it could have been used, leading to devastating consequences.' Ringrose, of Cannock, Staffordshire; Pitzettu, of Mickleover, Derbyshire; and Stewart, of Tingley, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, were all found guilty of preparing acts of terrorism and charges of collecting information likely to be useful to a person preparing or committing an act of terrorism. Ringrose was also convicted of manufacturing a prohibited weapon, while Pitzettu pleaded guilty to obtaining an illegal stun gun at a previous hearing. The defendants will be sentenced on July 17. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Metro
14-05-2025
- Metro
Neo-Nazi extremists built 3D-printed gun while plotting 'real-world attack'
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Three Nazi-adoring right-wing extremists would have attacked a mosque, synagogue or other place of worship with potentially deadly consequences if they had not been arrested, a senior anti-terrorism detective has said. Christopher Ringrose, 34, Marco Pitzettu, 25 and Brogan Stewart, 25, were convicted at Sheffield Crown Court of planning terror attacks. They will be sentenced on July 17. Jurors heard they were preparing to use the more than 200 weapons they had amassed, including machetes, swords, crossbows and an illegal stun gun. Ringrose had also 3D-printed most of the components of a semi-automatic firearm at the time of his arrest and was trying to get the remaining parts. The trio, who are not believed to have met in the real world before they appeared together in the dock of a court, were arrested when security services believed an attack was imminent after undercover officers infiltrated their online group, the court heard. Head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley, warned that their plans were not some 'fantasy' and they were 'prepping for a real-world attack'. He said that 'most concerning' was that they tried to acquire a gun and this led them to build a 3D printed firearm. The officer said: 'We saw this building of a firearm, and we saw them then changing their conversation and an uptick in their hatred and looking to identify a real-world target, which could have been talk of a synagogue, an Islamic institution, a mosque, education… 'When we saw that uptick changing, and they were looking to come out into the real world, that's when we took the action to arrest them.' Mr Dunkerley added: 'That was a tipping point for us. The protection of the public was absolutely paramount, and this wasn't some fantasy. 'Those views were amplified in that online space, encouraged between them, and they looked then to start what I think was prepping for a real-world attack.' The defendants formed an online group called Einsatz 14 in January 2024, with 'like-minded extremists' who wanted to 'go to war for their chosen cause'. Their nine-week long trial heard how the group idolised Hitler and the Nazis, shared racist slurs and glorified mass murderers. As part of this group, Stewart discussed torturing a Muslim leader using his 'information extraction kit' with an undercover officer in the group. He also told the officer that they needed to establish a 'new einsatzgruppe' – a reference to Hitler's SS death squad. Counter-terrorism police arrested the three in February 2024 after security services believed an attack was imminent. They warned the group could have carried out attacks at places of worship with potentially fatal consequences. They found that the group had amassed over 200 weapons, including body armour, swords, knives and a stun gun. Ringrose had 3D-printed most of the components of a semi-automatic firearm at the time of his arrest and was trying to get the remaining parts, the nine-week long trial heard. It also heard how Stewart set up the group with him as 'Fuhrer' and the undercover officer called Blackheart as the 'Obergruppenfuhrer', which the other two defendants also joined. He sent the officer a 'standard uniform' list which included a Black SS helmet, 'mask, balaclava, skull face mask or anything to hide identity' as well as a Swastika armband, although Stewart said this was 'Not a given. It must be earned'. Recruits were sent questions like: 'What is your opinion on the historic paramilitary force, the SS?' and 'Out of so many different options, who would you say you hold most of your hatred for – kikes, n******, shitskins, fags etc and why'. The trial heard how the group discussed potential targets – including the Islamic Education Centre in Leeds. Jonathan Sandiford KC, prosecuting, said Stewart sent Blackheart details of the centre including a Google Maps image. Stewart said about the plan: 'It depends how far we are willing to go. It could be a beating with batons and bats or something more serious.' Mr Sandiford said: 'These three defendants were right-wing extremists who regarded themselves as National Socialists, or Nazis, and they supported the National Socialist movement in the UK, such as it is or indeed was.' He said they followed a cause which embraced an admiration for Adolf Hitler, white supremacy, a 'hatred towards black and other non-white races', and glorification and admiration for mass killers who have targeted the black and Muslim community. Stewart told the group: 'Hitler did more for his people than any politician. And for Britain to have a p*** and zionist in charge of the country is absolutely outrageous.' More Trending This was in reference to the then Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Ringrose, Pitzettu and Stewart were each found guilty today of 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. Ringrose was also convicted of manufacturing a prohibited weapon, while Pitzettu had pleaded guilty to obtaining an illegal stun gun at a previous hearing. Judge, Mrs Justice Cutts, told them: 'You must all expect substantial custodial sentences.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Girl, 14, dies at home with man and woman arrested over 'unexplained' death MORE: Teenager hit woman seconds after inhaling 'hippy crack' at wheel of her Fiat 500 MORE: Fred and Rose West still haunt nation 30 years after House of Horrors was exposed
Reuters
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Three British neo-Nazis convicted of planning attack as part of 'race war'
LONDON, May 14 (Reuters) - Three British right-wing extremists were convicted on Wednesday of planning to carry out a terrorist attack at mosques or synagogues as part of a "race war", British police said. Brogan Stewart and Marco Pitzettu, both 25, and Christopher Ringrose, 34, were preparing an act of terrorism when they were arrested in February 2024, prosecutors said at the start of their trial in March. The trio were also each charged with two counts of collecting information which may be useful to someone preparing an act of terrorism, while Ringrose was charged with manufacturing a component for a 3D-printed FGC9 firearm. They pleaded not guilty but jurors at Sheffield Crown Court convicted them of all charges on Wednesday. They will be sentenced on July 17. "Stewart, Pitzettu, and Ringrose have today been rightfully convicted of multiple terrorism offences," Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, said in a statement. "They were a group that espoused vile racist views and advocated for violence, all to support their extreme right-wing mindset. "Some of their defence in court was that it was all fantasy or just part of harmless chat, however all three took real world steps to plan and prepare for carrying out an attack on innocent citizens." Prosecutor Jonathan Sandiford had told jurors that the three defendants expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler and perpetrators of notorious terrorist attacks, as well as hatred for non-white people, especially Muslims and immigrants. "It was their belief that there must soon come a time when there would be a race war between the white and other races," Sandiford said. Among hundreds of messages sent by the trio, including in a Telegram group called "Einsatz 14", the defendants discussed executing then prime minister Rishi Sunak and torturing imams.
ITV News
14-05-2025
- ITV News
Nazi-worshipping extremists guilty of planning terror attacks
Three Nazi-worshipping extremists who believed a race war was imminent have been found guilty of planning terrorist attacks on mosques and synagogues. Brogan Stewart, 25 from West Yorkshire, Christopher Ringrose, 34 from Staffordshire and Marco Pitzettu, 25, from Derbyshire were found guilty of terrorism offences at Sheffield Crown Court on Wednesday after a jury rejected their claims that they were fantasists who were not serious when they discussed attacks online. Ringrose had also 3D-printed most of the components of a semi-automatic firearm at the time of his arrest and was trying to get the remaining parts. The trio, who are not believed to have met in the real world before they appeared together in the dock of a court, were arrested when security services believed an attack was imminent after undercover officers infiltrated their online group, the court heard. A nine-week long trial heard how the group idolised Hitler and the Nazis, shared racist slurs and glorified mass murderers. On Wednesday, a jury rejected claims the defendants were fantasists with no intention of carrying out their threats and found Ringrose, of Cannock, Staffordshire; Pitzettu, of Mickleover, Derbyshire; and Stewart, of Tingley, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, guilty of 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. Ringrose was also convicted of manufacturing a prohibited weapon. Pitzettu pleaded guilty to obtaining an illegal stun gun at a previous hearing. The defendants will be sentenced on July 17. The judge, Mrs Justice Cutts, told them: 'You must all expect substantial custodial sentences'. Head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley said: 'Stewart, Pitzettu, and Ringrose have today been rightfully convicted of multiple terrorism offences. They were a group that espoused vile racist views and advocated for violence, all to support their extreme right-wing mindset. 'Some of their defence in court was that it was all fantasy or just part of harmless chat, however all three took real world steps to plan and prepare for carrying out an attack on innocent citizens. 'Due to excellent collaborative work with our partners, we were able to infiltrate the group and arrest them before anyone was harmed." Bethan David, Head of the Crown Prosecution Service's Counter Terrorism Division, said: 'These extremists were plotting violent acts of terrorism against Synagogues, Mosques and Islamic Education Centres. By their own admission, they were inspired by SS tactics and supremacist ideology. 'Had Christopher Ringrose managed to completely finish building the 3-D printed semi-automatic firearm that he had started to, it could have been used leading to devastating consequences. 'The prosecution case against the defendants included their disturbing Telegram and Facebook chats as well as acquiring military equipment such as riot shields, body armour and an arsenal of weapons found at their home addresses that were to be used in readiness for a 'race war'. 'We worked closely with Counter Terrorism Policing North East to prepare a strong case against the defendants, and the jury has today convicted them of their crimes. Extremism is a threat to our society and we will always aim to keep communities safe by seeking to prosecute anyone who prepares for acts of terrorism.'
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Far-right extremists guilty of planning attacks
Three far-right extremists who amassed hundreds of weapons and planned to carry out attacks on targets including a mosque have been convicted of terrorism offences. Brogan Stewart, 25, from West Yorkshire, Christopher Ringrose, 34, from Staffordshire, and Marco Pitzettu, 25, from Derbyshire, were part of an online group who "idolised the Nazi regime". Sheffield Crown Court was told how Stewart had detailed torturing a Muslim leader using an "information extraction kit". All three were found guilty of terrorism offences at the same court on Wednesday and are due to be sentenced on 17 July. During the nine-week trial, the court heard more than 200 weapons including machetes, hunting knives, swords and crossbows were found at their homes. Ringrose had also begun to build a 3D-printed semi-automatic firearm, which counter-terror police said would have been a "lethal weapon". The three men had discussed targets for harassment and attacks including mosques, Islamic education centres and synagogues. The court heard how the group, who had never met in person and communicated online, were infiltrated by an undercover officer. Stewart, the group's leader, had told the officer that they needed to establish a "new einsatzgruppe" - a reference to Adolf Hitler's SS death squad. In chats via the Telegram social media platform, he described how he had an "information kit" which included a blowtorch, pliers, gaffer tape, a screwdriver, bleach and a syringe. Stewart, from Tingley, near Leeds, went on to detail torturing victims such as "local imams" and added nothing "loosened up" people "like seeing a syringe filled with bleach", jurors were told. The group were also prepared for what they believed was an inevitable race war. The men were arrested after security services believed an attack could be imminent. Det Ch Supt James Dunkerley, the head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, said the men had claimed what they were discussing was "just harmless chat". "These men had bonded over extreme racial prejudice. They idolised the Nazi regime, they glorified mass killing," he said. "They've physically amassed weapons, they've constructed a 3D-printed firearm and they were trying to identify potential targets. "This was far more than fantasy. This was something that could have very easily moved into the real world." Stewart, Ringrose and Pitzettu were all found guilty of 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. Ringrose was also convicted of manufacturing a prohibited weapon. Pitzettu pleaded guilty to obtaining an illegal stun gun at a previous hearing. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Terror-accused discussed torturing imams - trial HM Courts & Tribunals Service
