Schoolboys aged 15 and 16 ‘shared far-right terrorism manuals as well as pictures of Hitler and Christchurch mosque massacre killer on Telegram group chat and urged third boy to prepare terror attack’, court hears
- The 16-year-old, from Kent, was released on bail after this morning’s hearing
- Other boy, 15, from South Derbyshire, was remanded in custody in Westminster
- They will both appear in court on February 26 for a case management hearing
Two schoolboys shared far-right terrorism manuals as well as pictures of Hitler and the Christchurch mosque massacre killer on a group chat, and urged a third boy to prepare a terror attack, a court has heard.
A 15-year-old, who cannot be named due to his age, is charged with possessing the ‘Anarchy cookbook Version 2000’, a terrorist publication, on 22 September 2020.
He is also charged with distributing the same material through a far-right-wing extremist Telegram group on 18 September 2020.
Prosecutors claim the 15-year-old, who suffers from severe ADHD and autism, allegedly set up the chat where pictures of Hitler, left, and Brenton Tarrant, the Christchurch terrorist, right, were shared
Charges related to distributing material through a far-right-wing extremist Telegram group
Prosecutors claim the 15-year-old, who suffers from severe ADHD and autism, allegedly set up the chat where pictures of Hitler and Brenton Tarrant, the Christchurch terrorist, were shared.
A 16-year-old, who can not be named either, is charged with disseminating a terrorist publication by posting a link in the chat to the ‘White Resistance Manual’ on 28 August 2020.
Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard the material posted through the group allegedly encouraged a third schoolboy and member of that chat to prepare an act of terrorism.
Both teenagers appeared together in court and did not enter a plea during the hearing.
Chief Magistrate Emma Arbuthnot said: ‘There was a co-defendant who was influenced and part of this far-right group who has gone to the Central Criminal Court this morning.’
She set a case management hearing for 26 February.
The 16-year-old, from Kent, was bailed on condition he does not access the internet except for one internet-enabled device at home, does not access the internet on a third party’s internet or media device, does not access the internet at school unless supervised by a teacher, and observes a tagged curfew from 8 pm – 6 am.
The 15-year-old, from, South Derbyshire, was remanded in custody.
They will both appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 26 February for a case management hearing.