Teenager Found Guilty of Terror Offences After Far-Right Radicalisation
A schoolboy, now aged 16, has been convicted of multiple terror offences after joining a proscribed far-right organisation and conducting research on a synagogue, with evidence showing he was encouraged by Russian extremists online. The teenager, who cannot be named due to his age, was unanimously found guilty by a jury at Leeds Crown Court on charges including possession of terrorist documents, dissemination of terrorist documents, and membership of a banned terrorist group.
However, the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the more serious charge of preparing acts of terrorism. The Crown Prosecution Service has announced it will not seek a retrial for this count. The boy, who was 15 at the time of the offences, claimed during the trial that his online activities were part of a fictional "character" and he never intended to carry out any violent plans.
Evidence of Radicalisation and Hate-Filled Writings
Upon his arrest at his father's home in a Northumberland village, where he lived after his parents' separation, police discovered a journal containing disturbing entries. The court heard that the teenager wrote about his hatred for his school, stating, "I want to do horrible things to the people in my school. Some of them should be shot." On the same page, he ranked mass murderers, with neo-Nazi terrorist Anders Breivik at the top of his list.
Further evidence included a "to-do list" detailing weapons and explosives, and his bedroom was found adorned with white supremacist flags. Prosecuting barrister Michelle Heeley KC described the youth as having "an arsenal worthy of any young right-wing terrorist" and highlighted that his diary and social media messages reflected a teenager "filled with hate and racism." She argued he was "building up to real life action" and had acquired a GoPro camera to potentially livestream an attack, mimicking other mass killers.
Online Engagement with Extremist Groups
The court was told that the boy's involvement with far-right groups on Telegram began as early as 2023. His activity escalated in August 2024 when he messaged a group called The Base, a proscribed terror organisation that advocates for violence to incite a race war. In February 2025, a Russian user claiming to be the leader of The Base urged the teenager to take action, saying, "we're willing to help you," and praised him as a "warrior" doing a "good deed for your community."
During the trial, the boy admitted to feeling "addicted" to the online extremist content, describing it as "exciting" and a "completely different world." He also confessed to participating in racist conversations on Snapchat and sharing violent "gore" videos, stating he did so to "fit in" with peers.
Defence Arguments and Sentencing
Defending barrister Frida Hussain KC portrayed the teenager as "desperately lonely" and plagued by suicidal thoughts, suggesting he created an online persona as a distraction. When asked if he ever intended to harm others in reality, the boy responded, "Just thoughts in my head. I never intended to harm anyone."
Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley issued a warning to parents, emphasising the dangers of extreme online content and how it can lead to serious offending. He recommended resources like Internet Matters for practical advice on protecting children from such influences.
Judge Mr Justice Wall has scheduled sentencing for 27 March in Leeds. This case underscores the ongoing challenges of online radicalisation and the vulnerabilities of young individuals to extremist ideologies.
