A man has been convicted of committing terrorism offences after he was found guilty of distributing extremist publications.

The man – who cannot be named for legal reasons – was found guilty of two charges of possessing documents likely to be useful to a person preparing to commit an act of terrorism and distribution of a terrorist publication.

A 33-year-old soldier – Mikko Vehvilainen – was also found guilty but details of this offence cannot be disclosed for legal reasons.

Vehvilainen, who is a lance corporal working as a trainer in the army and born in Finland, was arrested by officers from West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit (WMCTU) at his army base in Brecon, Powys in September 2017.

At an earlier hearing, Vehvilainen admitted a separate offence of being in possession of pepper spray.

Following a search of his military address, officers found a war hammer which had “Isaiah 48:22” carved into the handle referencing a passage from the Bible – “There is no peace, says the LORD, for the wicked”.

Also found were throwing knives, two crossbows, a number of arrows and component parts of an electromagnetic pulse device. A mannequin was found in Vehvilainen’s garage which had knife marks in the torso area.

A third man, 24-year-old Mark Barrett – a private in the military − also stood trial and was found not guilty of an offence which cannot be disclosed for legal reasons.

Detective Chief Superintendent Matt Ward, who heads the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit, said: “We are committed to tackling all forms of extremism which has the potential to threaten public safety and security.”

Anyone who sees or hears something that could be terrorist-related should act on their instincts and call the police in confidence on 0800 789 321. In an emergency, always dial 999. Visit gov.uk/ACT for more information, including how to report extremist or terrorist content that is online.
West Midlands Police

Nazi-salute British soldier cleared of terrorism offence

By virginiagolden

April 12, 2018

Uncategorized

Cpl Mikko Vehvilainen found not guilty over Breivik manifesto after admitting having CS gas

A serving British soldier who kept a photo of himself giving a Nazi-style salute has been cleared of a terrorism offence.

Cpl Mikko Vehvilainen, a white supremacist who collected a host of legally held weaponry, pleaded guilty to a separate charge of having a banned canister of CS gas, which he kept in a drawer at a property he was renovating in Llansilin, Powys.

A jury at Birmingham crown court cleared him of possession of a terrorism document – a charge that related to a manifesto by the Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivik – and two counts of stirring up racial hatred, relating to forum posts on a white nationalist website.

Vehvilainen, of the Royal Anglian Regiment, kept a homemade target dummy in the garage of his barracks home at Sennybridge Camp, Brecon, and had a container filled with 11 knives, knuckle-dusters, a face mask and a box of Nazi flags, all legally held.

He kept a licensed shotgun, a crossbow and bow and homemade arrows, he had wiring and electrical parts capable of being made into a crude electro-magnetic pulse device, and he customised army-issue body armour, spray-painting it black. He also had a Hitler Youth knife and an SS ceremonial dagger.

Vehvilainen wrote to two men jailed for race crimes, including a man convicted of making antisemitic remarks to the Labour MP Luciana Berger, telling them “there is still hope”. He wrote a draft of an extreme rightwing magazine he entitled Extinction, in which he railed against mixed-race relationships, “unnatural” homosexuality and “non-whites”.

Vehvilainen’s phone showed 900 visits to a white nationalist website, Cristogenea.org.

Vehvilainen’s barrister, Pavlos Panayi QC, told jurors at the start of the trial that it was “not in dispute that he [Vehvilainen] is a racist”, but he said it was not a crime simply to hold such views.

The prosecutor Duncan Atkinson QC said that in collecting weapons Vehvilainen was “putting into effect his repeated call, quite literally, to arms on the part of those who, like him, wanted to create a white-only society”.

An entry in a notebook found at Vehvilainen’s address, read: “Be prepared to fight and die for your race in a possible last stand for our survival.”

Atkinson said: “The lists [of weapons], and indeed the substantial quantity of weaponry recovered from his address, reveal and speak to his intention to stockpile weapons and other equipment in preparation for the ‘race war’ that he spoke of.”

In Vehvilainen’s wardrobe, where he kept his uniform, police found a Nazi flag pinned to the inside of the door. When he opened the door for officers, he turned to them and said: “That’s what this is about, isn’t it?”

On his arrest on 5 September last year, Vehvilainen told his wife: “I’m being arrested for being a patriot.”

He was on trial alongside Pte Mark Barrett, 25, also of the Royal Anglians, and formerly of Kendrew barracks, Cottesmore, Rutland. Barrett was acquitted of a charge of membership of the proscribed far-right organisation National Action.

A 23-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was cleared of having Breivik’s manifesto but convicted of three other terrorism offences.

Vehvilainen and the 23-year-old will be sentenced on Friday.

The Guardian

Banff man Connor Ward jailed for terrorism offences

By virginiagolden

April 12, 2018

Uncategorized

A 25-year-old man from Banff convicted of planning terrorism attacks on mosques has been jailed for life.

A judge told Connor Ward he must serve at least six years before he is eligible for parole.

His trial heard he acquired components for potential bombs and kept a list of Scottish mosque addresses.

Ward had denied breaching the Terrorism Act but was charged with conduct which showed his intention to commit acts of terrorism.

Police who searched his home found hundreds of ball bearings, which could be used in pipe bombs, and rocket tubes capable of firing projectiles.

‘Catastrophic results’

At the High Court in Glasgow, judge Lord Burns told him: “The jury found you guilty and must have been satisfied you were in the course of preparing acts of terrorism.

“The jury’s view was that you formed an intention to attack a mosque or mosques in Aberdeen and would have acted alone.

“You had reached the stage of identifying your targets and expressed threats against Muslims.”

Lord Burns said that if Ward had carried out the acts of terrorism “it would have had catastrophic results.”

‘Serious public risk’

The judge added: “You had reached the stage of buying materials and you planned to cause serious injury at the least.

“Your obsession with weapons and explosives and your extreme right-wing attitudes presents serious risk to the public.”

Ward showed no emotion as he was led away to begin his sentence.

The trial had been held at the High Court in Edinburgh.

He was previously jailed for three years in 2012 after admitting explosives charges in connection with an incident which saw people evacuated from their homes.

BBC News

Scots ‘neo-Nazi’ who plotted terror attacks jailed for life

By virginiagolden

April 12, 2018

Uncategorized

A Scots ‘neo-Nazi’ who gathered components to make bombs and kept a list of Scottish mosque addresses has been jailed for life.

Connor Ward, from Banff in Aberdeenshire, acquired hundreds of ball bearings which could be used in pipe bombs and rocket tubes which could be used to fire projectiles.

He also had a stun gun, hundreds of knuckle dusters, knives and metal bars.

The 25-year-old was sentenced to life in prison for breaching the Terrorism Act 2000 and the Terrorism Act 2006. It will be six years before he is eligible for parole.

Ward acquired a mobile phone signal jamming device and a machine for picking up hidden bugs.

He also downloaded tens of thousands of documents on guns and survival techniques. The files also contained extreme right-wing propaganda and military tactics.

Detectives also found a Google Maps-style file containing the postal addresses of five Islamic places of worship in the Aberdeen area on Ward’s computer.

They also found that Ward, who told jurors that he thought Hitler had made mistakes, had started to compose a book called “Combat 18 British Mosque Address Book”.

Lord Burns told him: “The jury found you guilty and must have been satisfied you were in the course of preparing acts of terrorism.

“The jury’s view was that you formed an intention to attack a Mosque or Mosques in Aberdeen and would have acted alone. You had reached the stage of identifying your targets and expressed threats against Muslims.”

Lord Burns said that if Ward had carried out the acts of terrorism “It would have had catastrophic results”.

The judge added: “You had reached the stage of buying materials and you planned to cause serious injury at the least. Your obsession with weapons and explosives and your extreme right-wing attitudes presents serious risk to the public.”

Combat 18 is the name of an extreme British right-wing paramilitary group.

Ward had previously been jailed for three years at the High Court in Edinburgh on another explosives charge.

He was also given a 22-month jail sentence in April 2015 for possessing a stun gun.

Ward was convicted in July 2016 of having an “improvised” knife whilst serving that prison sentence and given another 18 months.

In August 2016, the court heard how Ward was sentenced to another four months in custody for assaulting somebody whilst in custody.

STV

‘Controlling’ Doncaster man jailed for beating girlfriend and attacking good samaritans who came to her aid

By virginiagolden

April 9, 2018

Uncategorized

A ‘controlling’ Doncaster man beat his girlfriend in the street, before attacking two members of the public who came to her aid, a court heard.

During a hearing held at Sheffield Crown Court on Monday, Daniel Lang, aged 24, was jailed for three years for one count of controlling and coercive behaviour, one count of grievous bodily harm and one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

The court was told how Lang’s campaign of controlling behaviour towards his girlfriend began after the couple lost a baby girl in January last year.

It began by him reading things on her phone and checking her Facebook messages and ended with regular drink-fueled attacks in which he would ‘punch, kick and rag her about’, said Christopher Dunn, prosecuting.

He added: “He didn’t exactly stop her from going out, but the consequences if she did go out were such that it was simply wasn’t worth it. She stopped going out with friends, she stopped even going to the shop.”

The months of abusive behaviour came to a head on the evening of August 4 last year, when Lang began beating his girlfriend in the street after the pair were ejected from the Black Bull pub in Doncaster town centre and began arguing.

Following this, Lang, of King’s Crescent, Edlington punched a woman who followed the couple down the street after she became concerned about the young woman’s welfare.

Mr Dunn said: “As she got around the corner punched her in the face, his fist connected with her temple and knocked her unconscious.”

The woman was left with a four-inch cut to her head, which needed to be glued.

Then, in a separate incident, two men who saw Lang punching and kicking his girlfriend after he had thrown her to the floor, called the police for help.

One of the men was concerned that the police would not arrive in time and so attempted to intervene himself, the court heard.

“He challenged the defendant who immediately punched him to the face, causing him to fall to his knees,” said Mr Dunn.

The man sustained a fractured cheek bone in the attack.

He was arrested by police shortly after.

Lang pleaded guilty to the three offences prior to Monday’s sentencing.

Gul Nawaz Hussain QC, defending, said: “The defendant is ashamed of his behaviour, but found it difficult with the loss of his daughter.”

He added: “He vented his anger and frustration when he should have been looking to her for solace and comfort, and should have been offering the same thing to her.”

In addition to his custodial sentence, Recorder Davies also made Lang the subject of a five-year restraining order which prevents him from contacting his former girlfriend during that time.

Doncaster Free Press

Irish ‘Nazi’ soldier jailed for bragging that he’d ‘kill Muslim children’ on WhatsApp

By virginiagolden

April 7, 2018

Uncategorized

A SOLDIER jailed for hate crimes after taunting a woman with racially abusive WhatsApp messages has been revealed to be an Irishman from Dublin.

Graham Bolger, a 23-year-old British Army Guardsman, sent a number of racially abusive comments about Turkish people and Muslims to a woman between July 2017 and November 2017.

The shamed soldier was thrown out of the Army after his messages were exposed in court.

The Sun reports that Bolger, who talked about killing Muslim children and claimed to be a Nazi, is originally from Clondalkin in west Dublin.

He was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court in January after admitting two offences of intentionally causing harassment, alarm or distress which was racially or religiously aggravated.

His sentence was later uplifted from 16 weeks to 24 weeks after the CPS convinced the court that Bolger’s actions amount to a hate crime.

Videos played at Bolger’s trial showed the Dubliner performing a Nazi salute in his army uniform at the Infantry Training Centre in North Yorkshire.

Graham Bolger making a Nazi salute in uniform, and right, back home in Dublin last year (Image: CPS)

His messaging of the woman was described as a campaign of hate – in one instance telling her that he joined the Army to “wipe out” Muslims.

He also told her that Hitler was “brilliant” and praised the Holocaust, branding Jews “money-grabbing c***s”.

After an internal review was ordered by General Sir Nick Carter, Bolger was promptly kicked out of the British Army.

“The Army has concluded its considerations in relation to this case, but we are not prepared to release any personal information about this individual,” said an Army spokesperson.

“We have a common law and Data Protection Act duty to protect the personal information of our employees and there is no good reason to release personal information in this case.”

CPS prosecutor Joyce Kerrins said Bolger’s conduct was “made worse” by his racially abusive comments.

She added: “Where a hate crime has been committed the CPS will always apply to the court to apply the law and give an ‘uplifted’ sentence which properly fully reflects the nature of the crime.

“The evidence provided by the prosecution, following a thorough police investigation, included social media messages and witness testimony and was pivotal to him pleading guilty to his crimes.

“I hope this prosecution empowers other victims of hate crimes to come forward and stop others from also being subjected to vile abuse.”

Irish Post

Murderer and robber sent explosives from inside prison

By virginiagolden

April 3, 2018

Uncategorized

Bret Atkins and Jamie Snow smirked as their jail sentences were increased for the race-hate campaign they orchestrated from inside a top security jail

Bret Atkins, 24, and Jamie Snow, 27, sent crude explosive devices from the segregation unit of Full Sutton prison, near York and sent them to law firms in Halifax and Nottingham Photo: PA

A murderer and a robber who sent crude explosive devices from the segregation unit of a top security jail to Asian solicitors as part of a race-hate campaign have had their prison sentences increased.

Bret Atkins, 24, and Jamie Snow, 27, smirked and laughed as a judge at Leeds Crown Court was told how they constructed basic incendiary devices made from crushed match heads in their cells at Full Sutton prison, near York, and sent them to law firms in Halifax and Nottingham.

Despite Atkins and Snow appearing by videolink from different prisons – Whitemoor and Wakefield – the two managed to exchange smiles with each other as details of their racist messages were read to the court.

Atkins – who is serving a life term with a minimum term of 20 years for murdering a man in Hull in 2009 – grinned even though his barrister told the judge he had converted to Islam since arriving at Whitemoor.

Judge Rodney Jameson handed down a seven year prison sentence to Atkins, who was found guilty by a jury earlier this year of conspiracy to send an explosive substance with intent to burn.

The judge ordered this to start 18 months before the end of his current 20 year minimum term and said this would have the effect of increasing the minimum term of his life sentence to 22 years.

Snow, who is originally from Leeds, was serving an eight-and-a-half year sentence for robbery, attempted robbery and possessing a firearm with intent when he sent the letters.

He was given an extended sentence of six years and three months after admitting offences of sending an explosive substance with intent to burn and making threats to kill. The judge said the extended part of the sentence meant he will be on licence five years after he is released.

Atkins admitted murdering 35-year-old Simon Ash in Hull in 2009.

A judge at the time said he and another man had ”callously and cold-bloodedly” killed Mr Ash, who was walking alone.

They kicked him and stamped on his head so hard that an imprint of Atkins’s shoe was left on his face.

Devices were sent by the pair but, the court heard, they were intercepted before they reached their intended targets.

The judge was told that both men had a “shared racial hatred” of Asian people and had threatened to kill Asian prisoners, attack the imam at Full Sutton and burn down mosques.

As well as the incendiary devices, Snow sent threatening letters to solicitors – one including an illustration of how to make a bomb using a light bulb.

Jonathan Sandiford, prosecuting, said Snow wrote a letter to a probation officer referring to Asian people as “dirty disgusting vermin”.

Prison officers intercepted a letter sent to Rahman Ravelli solicitors in Halifax from Snow in November 2012 and found a device inside made from crushed match heads and a striking device attacked to the opening flap.

When confronted about it, Snow said “two out of three is not bad”, according to Mr Sandiford.

The prosecutor said he was “claiming he’d already sent another two”.

Mr Sandiford said Snow sent a threatening letter to another law firm, signing it “your neighbourhood Muslim-killer”.

He said prison officers heard Atkins bragging in phone calls that he and Snow were vying to kill the prison imam, saying: “Me and Snowy have got a deal – whoever gets to him first can have an ounce of amber leaf (tobacco).”

The court heard Atkins sent a letter to Carrington’s Solicitors, in Nottingham, containing another incendiary device but it was intercepted.

The message included the sign-off: “Ha, ha, ha, boom. I’ve got my eyes on you.”

Mr Sandiford said the pair also conducted a dirty protect in the segregation wing of Full Sutton when they daubed threats against Muslims on the walls of their cells in excrement.

But Philippa Eastwood, defending Atkins, said: “He had converted to Islam since he has been at HMP Whitemoor and has been a practising Muslim in the time since he had been there.”

Snow – through his barrister Richard Simons – tried to get the judge to increase his sentence to more than seven years so he could get access to a mental health course in prison to address his personality disorder and other potential psychiatric problems.

But Judge Jameson said he could not take this unusual course.

The judge told the pair it was unlikely the devices they made would have caused any more injury than burns to the hands of anyone who opened them.

But he said they “exercised considerable ingenuity in making these potentially dangerous devices out of the materials at your disposal”.

The judge said: “In both cases, you sent improvised incendiary devices by the mail, or submitted them to be sent by mail, to Asian solicitors in the north of England.

“No injury was caused by any device that you sent. It is difficult to know the extent of the distress that you caused.”

After the hearing, Detective Chief Superintendent Ian Wilson of the north east counter-terrorism unit said: “Bret Atkins and Jamie Snow waged a campaign of hate against innocent people, choosing victims purely on the grounds of their race or religion. They expressed deeply racist and anti-Muslim views and sent a series of threatening letters, designed to instil fear in their recipients.

“Snow and Atkins took their hatred beyond threats to kill and even tried to post explosive materials in an attempt to cause harm or injury. Thankfully this mail was intercepted by vigilant officers within the prison service and was never able to enter the postal system.

“Snow and Atkins may already be in prison, but they will still be held accountable. We will continue to work with the prison service to respond to racially-aggravated incidents and punish those who seek to threaten the safety and confidence of our communities.”

Marcella Goligher, governor of Full Sutton Prison, said: “We are committed to the prevention of crime and are proud of the work our vigilant and highly-skilled members of staff do to detect it.

“These convictions have been secured as a result of strong partnerships, and we will continue to work with the police and the CPS to ensure prisoners who break the law are prosecuted.”

Daily Telegraph

From Sept 2014

Man with extreme homophobic and racist views made bombs at his historic Devon home

By virginiagolden

March 29, 2018

Uncategorized

Steven Bracher had three viable pipe bombs and was working on a total of 17 improvised devices in Bishops Tawton.

A man with extreme homophobic and racist views has admitted making a nine kilogram fertiliser bomb at his home in a Devon village.

Steven Bracher had three viable pipe bombs and was working on a total of 17 improvised devices when he was arrested for having a knife in the street in Barnstaple.

Royal Navy explosives experts spent several hours making safe and removing a large quantity of different chemicals at the historic Almshouses in Bishops Tawton, near Barnstaple.

Police also found jottings which indicated extreme views of members of society including black people and gay people, some of which talked about killing people.

The largest bomb was a nine kilogram device made from ammonium sulphate and diesel oil which was found under 55-year-old Bracher’s bed.

It was blown up by the Plymouth-based Navy experts and the resulting explosion was filmed as evidence of the power of the bomb. It left a large hole in the ground.

Scientists at a Government laboratory are still studying all the chemicals which were seized to try to find out whether Bracher was trying to make more devices.

He is an amphetamine addict who was also trying to make his own supply in an operation similar to the one in the American crime series Breaking Bad.

Bracher, of the Law Memorial Houses in Bishops Tawton, admitted three counts of having explosive substances, one of possessing a lock knife in Barnstaple High Street, and one of possessing amphetamines.

He appeared by video link at Exeter Crown Court from Long Lartin prison and was remanded in custody. Judge David Evans ordered psychiatric and probation reports and adjourned the case until June 8.

Mr David Sapiecha, prosecuting, said the explosives were found after Bracher was arrested on Wednesday January 24 this year.

He said:”He was in possession of 17 improvised explosive devices. Three were what are commonly termed pipe bombs with explosives in metal tubes.

“In addition there was an ammonia sulphate fertiliser bomb weighing nine kilograms. Video footage is available of it being exploded under controlled conditions which show the size of the blast and the hole it made.

“The nine kilogram bomb was under his bed. There are aspects of the case that we do not link directly, but he had particular views which appear to be of concern.

“The property was full of weaponry including machetes, knives and things like that. There were jottings which show fairly nasty views with regard to sections of society.

“Drugs were being used. He told police he was addicted to amphetamines and had attempted to make amphetamine or met-amphetamine, although the experts say he was not up to it.

“When he was booked into custody he said he had undiagnosed depression. He had an interest in explosives and one aspect which will need to be looked at is what may have happened if he had a bad day as a result of depression and drugs.

“It could have turned quite nasty. We do not say there is any link to terrorism.”

Mr Richard Crabb, defending, said Bracher has no psychiatric history and there is another side to his character. He said there was no indication he had any intention to harm anyone or to damage property.

The judge said:”He is expressing views in the jottings which are troubling and at the same location there are explosive substances and weaponry. The jottings include expressions of an intention to kill people.

“We have someone who may be labouring under some sort of mental health problem who is addicted to a drug which may have unpredictable side effects and who was expressing these intentions and desires. metaphorically, it is an explosive mixture.”

Devon Live

‘Feral’ thugs left man with clicking jaw after Mansfield street attack

By virginiagolden

March 29, 2018

Uncategorized

A man has been left with an “annoying” click in his jaw when he eats after being attacked by “a feral group” on the streets of Mansfield.

One man has been jailed and three others given suspended terms after admitting affray following the Stockwell Gate attack at 3am on a Bank Holiday weekend Saturday in May last year.

Sentencing, Mr Recorder Stuart Sprawson said: “Nobody is safe when they walk the streets of Mansfield.”

Sitting at Nottingham Crown Court, he was shown a film of their attack on a man who was trying to get a taxi so a tipsy woman could get home.

The CCTV showed the man being punched, falling to the ground and then getting kicked before one of the attackers stamped on him.

Mr Recorder Sprawson said they mistakenly thought their victim had assaulted the woman and “took the law into their own hands”.

Described the men as “a feral group”, he said: “Nobody is safe when they walk the streets of Mansfield.

“You inflicted significant violence for your delight and pleasure.”

Joey Kwong, prosecuting, said their target had medical problems before the attack, but was left with cuts, bruises and damage to his jaw.

He said: “He had a cut lip and pain to the right side of the jaw. When he eats, the right side of the jaw clicks. It causes annoyance.”

Leon Payne, aged 27, of Blackwell Road, Sutton, who was already on a suspended sentence, was jailed for eight months.

Julia King, for Payne, said he threw the first punch, but missed before there was “a flurry of blows”.

She said: “He no longer goes out into Mansfield drinking. He is working seven days a week.”

Steven Anderson, 21, from Strawberry Bank, Sutton, was handed a 10-month prison term, suspended for two years. He was also given a three-month curfew to keep him at home on weekend nights and ordered to pay £240 costs and £100 compensation.

Sarah Phelan, for Anderson, told the court: “He is deeply ashamed and extremely embarrassed by his behaviour and wishes to apologise to the complainant.”

Paul Roberts, 27, of Lime Avenue, Sutton, who had never been in trouble before, was given a six-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months. He must also obey a curfew for two months and pay £240 costs and £100 compensation.

Digby Johnson, for Roberts, said he threw three punches and was involved for “less than four seconds.”

He told the court Mansfield is a town where there is “sporadic violence every Saturday night, let alone every Bank Holiday”.

Finbarr Duffy, 26, of Warwick Street, Nottingham, was given an eight-month prison term, suspended for two years, as well as a curfew keeping him indoors every night for two months. He must also pay £50 to the victim and £50 costs.

Richard Posner, for Duffy, said: “It is fortunate no serious injury arose.

“He does not seek to use alcohol as an excuse. On viewing the CCTV, he felt sick and hated himself.”

Mansfield Chad

A man has been convicted of having explosives

By virginiagolden

March 29, 2018

Uncategorized

A man has been convicted of having explosives, weapons and ammunition following a joint investigation by police in Hertfordshire and Counter Terrorism officers from the Met and the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit (ERSOU).

Warren Snedden, 44 (05.05.73) of Longcroft Lane, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire was today, Tuesday, 27 March, found guilty at Woolwich Crown Court of having an explosive substance.

Snedden had previously pleaded guilty to a number of other offences including: possession of documents containing information likely to be useful for terrorist purposes; possession of firearms and ammunition; and, production of cannabis.

Police were alerted to a suspicious transaction on an online auction site in July 2017, where a number of chemicals associated with the production of the explosive TATP were purchased. Further enquiries linked the purchases to Snedden.

A search warrant was carried out on 29 September 2017 by Hertfordshire Constabulary at his address in Welwyn Garden City, where officers found the chemicals in Snedden’s bedroom, along with a number of tilt switches, that are often used in the production of improvised explosive devices (IEDs).

Police also found component parts of a firearm, an air rifle and over 200 rounds of ammunition – all items Snedden was specifically prohibited from possessing, having previously been convicted of an armed robbery offence in 2001. A small number of cannabis plants were also found growing in his garden.

Snedden’s digital devices were seized and later examined. Detectives found copies of terrorist-related manuals and documents detailing how to make and create home-made ammunition, weapons and explosives.

Snedden was charged and remanded in custody; he appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on 2 October 2017, and his case was subsequently referred on to Woolwich Crown Court for trial.

Commander Clarke Jarrett, Head of the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command, said: “Snedden never gave a full explanation as to what he was planning to do with the array of chemicals, weaponry and ammunition he had stockpiled. What is clear is that what he was doing was putting both himself, his neighbours and the public in great danger.

“This was a joint investigation between the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command and colleagues from Hertfordshire Constabulary, as well officers from ERSOU’s counter terrorism policing unit. The excellent work across all three has led to a number of dangerous components and weapons being taken out of circulation.

“The case is also a further reminder of the need to be ever-vigilant and I would urge anyone who sees any suspicious activity or behaviour to ACT and report it to police.”

Any suspicious behaviour or activity can be reported via the online tool at: http://gov.uk/ACT or by calling the Anti-Terrorist Hotline on 0800 789 321.

Detective Superintendent Glen Channer, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing for ERSOU, said: “Although we may never understand why Snedden stockpiled these items and was viewing such material, there is no doubt that he posed a very real threat to society.

“This case was a great example of agencies working together in order to prevent someone from causing harm, and removing dangerous weapons and chemicals from circulation.

“Last week saw the launch of the new Action Counter Terrorism campaign which urges people to be vigilant to suspicious activity such as the ordering of illegal firearms or the gathering of chemical materials so this is a timely reminder for people to be alert and report anything they find concerning.”

Snedden was convicted of the following offences:

Two counts of having an explosive substance; two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon; two counts of possession of a firearm without a certificate; possession of ammunition without a certificate; possession of ammunition when prohibited; possession of a firearm by a person previously convicted of crime; three counts of possession of a document containing information useful for terrorist purposes; production of cannabis.

Met Police