Neo-Nazi teen jailed for six years over plot to attack sites including shuls
17-year-old drafted far-right manifesto which listed 'areas to attack' in Durham, and wrote of a plan to conduct an arson spree with Molotov cocktails against local synagogues.
A teenage neo-Nazi from Durham who planned to torch local synagogues using Molotov cocktails has been jailed for more than six years.
The 17-year old youth was sentenced this week after being found guilty of drawing up a terrorist hit-list including schools and council buildings, and of researching weapons such as knives, guns and explosives.
Jurors at Manchester Crown Court had earlier heard how the young extremist had accessed a vast collection of far-right literature before officers seized his phone and computer equipment in March last year, during his arrest.
Synagogues were listed under an ‘Areas to Attack’ section in his own “manifesto”.
In court he said he had no intention of carrying out any attacks, arguing that his far-right persona was for “shock value” only, but the jury didn’t believe him.
He was found guilty of preparation of terrorist acts between October 2017 and March 2019, disseminating a terrorist publication, possessing an article for a purpose connected with terrorism, and three counts of possessing a document or record containing information likely to be useful to a terrorist. He was sentenced to six years and eight months.
Mark Gardner, Director of Communications at the Community Security Trust said: “This is yet another example of possible terrorism from British neo-Nazis. It is important that our community realises the scale of the threat that is now posed by such people.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.