Three males from an internet excessive right-wing group have been jailed for a mixed complete of 29 years for planning a terrorist assault in West Yorkshire, the UK Defence Journal understands.
Brogan Stewart, 25, from Tingley, was sentenced to 11 years in jail with a further eight years on prolonged licence. Marco Pitzettu, 26, from Derby, obtained eight years with 5 on prolonged licence, whereas Christopher Ringrose, 35, from Cannock, was sentenced to 10 years in custody and 5 on licence. All three are topic to Severe Crime Prevention Orders for 5 years and terrorism notification necessities for 30 years.
The lads have been convicted in Could following a nine-week trial at Sheffield Crown Courtroom. Prosecutors stated they shaped a “militant” on-line group the place they glorified mass murderers, exchanged racist messages, and mentioned violent assaults on mosques, synagogues, and Islamic schooling centres.
Police arrested the trio on 20 February 2024 after an intelligence-led operation by Counter Terrorism Policing North East. Officers found over 200 weapons throughout their properties, together with machetes, crossbows, swords, and searching knives. Pitzettu had additionally obtained an unlawful stun gun, whereas Ringrose was convicted of producing a 3D-printed firearm.
Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley, head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, stated that “Stewart, Pitzettu, and Ringrose have rightfully been convicted of a number of terrorism offences. They espoused vile racist views and advocated for violence, all to assist their excessive right-wing mindset.”
He added that “a few of their defence in court docket was that it was all fantasy or simply a part of innocent chat, nevertheless all three took actual world steps to plan and put together for finishing up an assault on harmless residents.”
Bethan David, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Counter Terrorism Division, stated that “these extremists have been plotting violent acts of terrorism towards synagogues, mosques and an Islamic schooling centre,” and warned that “had Ringrose managed to finish the 3D-printed semi-automatic firearm he began, it may have had devastating penalties.”