Cambs neo-Nazi Covid conspiracy theorist spread antisemitic hoax theories

Matthew Henegan earlier attended court wearing a swastika armband and was ordered to remove it by a judge

A Cambridgeshire neo-Nazi coronavirus conspiracy theorist spread antisemitic hoax theories and referred to himself as a National Socialist.

Matthew Henegan, 36, has been found guilty of stirring up racial hatred on the internet and also in leaflets posted to residents of St Neots at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in March last year.

He also repeatedly used a “grossly offensive” term for Jewish people and falsely claimed they controlled the news about coronavirus.

Cambridgeshire Police became aware of the material in mid-March last year after residents reported receiving “offensive and antisemitic” leaflets through their doors.

Links were found in the documents to racially inflammatory video and audio files posted by Henegan online.

Police searched Henegan’s home and seized a large stash of leaflets, a homemade swastika and swastika armband, reports PA.

‘Coronavirus Hoax supplement’ was one document which Henegan posted online on March 9 last year and viewed 95 times.

Antisemitic themes and admiration for Adolf Hitler were found in the material, the Old Bailey was told.

Another document appeared online two days later suggesting that the Fishmongers’ Hall terror attack, in which two innocent people were killed, was “set up” by a propaganda machine.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson was also claimed to be Jewish but being “passed off” as English, the jury was told.

The author of the document referred to himself as a National Socialist, the court heard.

On March 13 last year, a three-hour video entitled “Corona Virus Hoax” was posted on the same website.

Henegan talked into the camera in the clip and encouraged people to deny any coronavirus curfew.

Henegan, from St Neots, denied possessing, distributing and publishing documents inciting racial hatred and possessing a terrorist document.

He also denied possessing a document about how to make armour-piercing ammunition that was likely to be useful to a terrorist.

Giving evidence, Henegan, who has Asperger’s syndrome, said it was not his intention to stir up racial hatred.

The unemployed defendant, who lived with his mother, told jurors he was interested in historical research, particularly Germany’s role in the Second World War.

He rejected the “commonly-held view” that Hitler began the war and also that six million Jewish people died at the hands of German authorities.

On Friday, a jury found Henegan guilty of the charges against him.

He was remanded into custody to be sentenced on January 14.

It can now be reported that Henegan had earlier attended court wearing a swastika armband and was ordered to remove it by a judge.

Cambridgeshire News