Extreme right-wing teenager jailed for terrorism offences

Jacek Tchorzewski, 18 (17.11.00), a Polish national staying in Buckinghamshire, was handed the sentence for 10 counts of possession of information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, contrary to section 58, on Friday, 20 September at the Old Bailey.

He pleaded guilty to the offences at the same court on Friday, 21 June.

The sentencing is the culmination of an intelligence-led, joint operation by the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command and the Eastern Region Specialist Operation Unit Counter Terrorism Policing (ERSOU CTP).

Officers from the ERSOU CTP stopped Tchorzewski at Luton Airport on Wednesday, 20 February before he could board a flight to Poland.

Using powers under Schedule 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000, they searched him and seized his mobile phone. Examination of this phone revealed Tchorzewski had saved a number of documents that were in breach of the Terrorism Act 2000, and so detectives arrested him on suspicion of terrorism offences.

Digital forensic experts from ERSOU CTP further examined Tchorzewski’s phone and unearthed a wider cache of terrorist documents and guidance on developing viable bombs and guns.

Subsequently, on Sunday, 14 April, detectives from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, supported by ERSOU CTP, further arrested Tchorzewski on suspicion of more terrorism offences.

The forensic specialists also found Tchorzewski had downloaded an array of extreme right-wing material which praised Hitler, neo-Nazism and Satanism. The documents featured anti-Semitic sentiments and even called for genocide.

It was also apparent that Tchorzewski was a close associate of Oskar Dunn-Koczorowski, who had been convicted of terrorism offences months earlier after police in Counter Terrorism Policing North East identified he had been encouraging terrorism on a neo-Nazi group’s social media account.

Tchorzewski’s phone contained a number of pictures of him and Dunn-Koczorowski posing with a Nazi flag and giving Nazi salutes.

Commander Richard Smith, head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “Tchorzewski’s obsession with neo-Nazism, terrorism and weaponry was not harmless curiosity. It was clear from the sheer quantity of terrorist material and neo-Nazi propaganda on Tchorzewski’s devices, and his friendship with Dunn-Koczorowski, that his mindset was one of violence and hatred towards communities other than his own.

“The guides Tchorzewski had collected would provide someone, with the right materials, sufficient guidance to make viable explosives and firearms, capable of causing death or serious injury.

“This case is a reminder that police are working with determination to stop terrorists whatever their toxic ideology. Extreme right-wing cases like this one increasingly contribute to the overall number of counter terrorism investigations nationally and we are seeing more people of extreme right-wing mindset referred to Prevent.

“I urge anyone with concerns that an individual may be involved in extreme right-wing activity to report their concerns to police.”

Anyone with such concerns can report it online at http://www.gov.uk/act or by calling police confidentially on the free phone number 0800 789 321.

Detective Superintendent Ian Butler, head of the ERSOU CTP, said: “This is an excellent example of the wider CT network working together to mitigate the threat of extreme ideology, and clearly demonstrates that Eastern Region ports are a hostile environment for extremists seeking travel.”
Met Police