A teenage neo-Nazi accused of plotting a “new Columbine” school massacre idolised EDL founder Tommy Robinson, the Old Bailey heard today.
The 16-year-old college student dreamed of the British National Party ruling the UK and told school pals he wished he was German, jurors were told.
He stockpiled petrol and pipe bombs and weaponry in his bedroom where he had hung a Nazi Swastika flag over his bed and kept a copy of Mein Kampf in among books on bomb making. The teenager is standing trial accused of plotting a massacre at his former school in Loughborough, Leicestershire, even drawing up a hit-list of staff and students he wanted to shoot.
Edward Roe, the manager of the Irish Clothing Company store in Loughborough where the teenager regularly bought military clothing and accessories, said he knew the boy held far-right wing views.
“We had a conversation with regards to the EDL, which I know stands for the English Defence League,” he said in a statement to the court. “I believe they incite hatred against different races and creeds, Asians in particular.
“He talked about Tommy Robinson, who I have heard of but I don’t know who he is. “I didn’t want to talk about this kind of thing in the shop - I think he was glorifying Tommy Robinson, whoever he was.”
Robinson dramatically quit the EDL yesterday, saying he has concerns over the “dangers of far-right extremism”
The teenager, now 17 from Loughborough, who has Asperger’s Syndrome, denies possessing an article for a purpose connected with terrorism, possessing a document likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, and possessing parts for an improvised explosive He has pleaded guilty to possessing an offensive weapon and cannot be named because of his age.
The case continues.
