Three members of an online neo-Nazi group have been convicted of planning to carry out terrorist attacks at synagogues and mosques as part of a “race war”.
Brogan Stewart and Marco Pitzettu, both 25, and Christopher Ringrose, 34, were found guilty of multiple terror and firearms offences following their arrests over a year ago.
“The self-styled ‘militant’ online group provided an echo chamber of extreme right-wing views where they shared horrific racial slurs, glorified mass murderers and encouraged violence against anyone deemed an enemy,” according to police, which noted that they idolised Nazism, “which was evident throughout their messages”.
Among hundreds of messages sent by the three, including in a groupchat titled “Einsatz 14” after the notorious Nazi death squads, they spoke about killing then prime minister Rishi Sunak and torturing imams.
In one comment, the court heard, 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.”
Potential recruits were also, according to prosecutors, asked a number of offensive vetting questions, including “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 – k****, n******, s***skins, fags etc and why?”
Other targets that the trio discussed in the Telegram group included synagogues, mosques and Islamic education centres.The court heard that the terror cell prepared for what they believed was an “inevitable race war,” sourcing body armour, rations and a cache of weapons as part of their preparations, according to authorities.
Police seized over 200 weapons from their homes, alongside riot gear, body armour and ration packs. The confiscated items included firearms components, machetes, hunting knives, swords and crossbows.
Ringrose was also in the process of 3D printing parts for semi-automatic firearm which could then be assembled at home, which the Crown Prosecution Service told the trial could have had “devastating consequences”.
The men pleaded not guilty, but jurors at Sheffield Crown Court convicted them of all charges on Wednesday. Sentencing is scheduled for July 17.
“Stewart, Pitzettu, and Ringrose have today been rightfully convicted of multiple terrorism offences,” stated Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley, head of Counter-Terrorism Policing North East.
“They were a group that espoused vile racist views and advocated for violence, all to support their extreme right-wing mindset,” he added. “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.”
