Latest news with #neoNazi
BBC News
2 days ago
- BBC News
Northumberland boy, 15, denies terrorist attack plan
A 15-year-old boy accused of being part of a banned neo-Nazi group has denied planning a terrorist youth, from Northumberland, is charged with engaging in conduct in preparation for committing acts of terrorism on or before 20 February and one count of membership of proscribed organisation The is alleged the defendant planned to target a phone mast and that he had searched the internet for local via video-link at the Old Bailey for a plea hearing, he pleaded not guilty to the charges. A trial has been set for next year. The Base, described as a right-wing white supremacist group, was proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the Home Office in July 2021. The court was told the teenager, who cannot be named because of his age, began to discuss planning a terrorist attack with an unidentified individual earlier this is accused of acquiring equipment and weapons including a crossbow and of downloading extremist teenager, who was arrested on 20 February, faces a four to six-week trial beginning on 13 January next year at Leeds Crown Justice Cheema-Grubb said a further preparatory hearing would take place on 5 boy was remanded back into custody. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Moment teenage 'neo-Nazi' is swarmed by counter-terror police after 'buying gun from undercover MI5 agent' in Morrisons car park
This is the terrifying moment a 'neo-Nazi' teenager was swarmed by armed counter-terror police after he allegedly bought a gun for a terrorist attack. Alfie Coleman, then 19, was detained outside a Morrisons supermarket in Stratford, east London, after he exchanged £3,500 for a Makarov gun and ammunition, the Old Bailey heard. The former Tesco worker was snared in a 'highly sophisticated operation' on September 29, 2023 after he allegedly made an arrangement with an undercover MI5 officer for the supply of a Makarov pistol, five magazines and 200 rounds of ammunition. In the shocking clip, Coleman collected the weapon dressed in a black tracksuit with his hood up. But before he could escape with the gun, a swarm of counter-terror police descended on him with stun guns and arrested him. Coleman, was allegedly told the undercover officer would be in a Land Rover Discovery parked in the Morrisons car park in Stratford, east London. Jurors were shown video footage of the defendant, dressed in all black and trying to obscure his face with his hood as he went to collect the weaponry. Coleman was seen leaving cash in the front passenger seat footwell and collecting a holdall from the boot. Coleman (pictured) has accepted having a significant quantity of extreme right-wing material and pleaded guilty to possessing 10 documents which contain information likely to be useful to terrorists But before he could walk away, he was confronted by counter-terrorism police officers pointing stun guns. In front of shocked shoppers, Coleman dropped to his knees and lay flat on the ground before being handcuffed. Coleman has accepted having a significant quantity of extreme right-wing material and pleaded guilty to possessing 10 documents which contain information likely to be useful to terrorists. The defendant, now aged 21, of Great Notley in Essex, has also pleaded guilty to attempting to possess both a firearm and ammunition but has denied he was preparing for a terrorist attack.
The Independent
03-07-2025
- The Independent
Jurors view dramatic moment armed police arrest neo-Nazi teenager in gun sting
Jurors have viewed the dramatic moment armed police swarmed a car park to arrest a neo-Nazi teenager as he allegedly picked up a gun for a terrorist attack. Alfie Coleman was detained outside a Morrisons supermarket after he exchanged £3,500 for a Marakov gun and ammunition, the Old Bailey has heard. It was the culmination of a 'highly sophisticated operation' in which Coleman was allegedly snared by an undercover officer from MI5. Former Tesco worker Coleman had allegedly made an arrangement with the undercover officer for the supply of a Makarov pistol, five magazines and 200 rounds of ammunition. Coleman, then aged 19, was allegedly told they would be in a Land Rover Discovery parked in the Morrisons car park in Stratford, east London, on the morning of September 29 2023. Jurors have been shown video footage of the defendant, dressed in a black tracksuit with the hood up as he went to collect the weaponry. In the video, he is seen leaving cash in the front passenger seat footwell and collecting a holdall from the boot. But before he has walked 30 yards, he is confronted by counter-terrorism police officers pointing stun guns. In front of shocked shoppers, Coleman drops to his knees and lies flat on the ground before being handcuffed. Coleman has accepted having a significant quantity of extreme right-wing material and pleaded guilty to possessing 10 documents which contain information likely to be useful to terrorists. The defendant, now aged 21, of Great Notley in Essex, has also pleaded guilty to attempting to possess both a firearm and ammunition but has denied he was preparing for a terrorist attack. The Old Bailey trial continues.
The Guardian
03-07-2025
- The Guardian
MI5 apologises after spy gave false evidence about neo-Nazi informant
MI5's chief has apologised after a court ruled that a senior spy gave 'false evidence' that was relied on in three court cases about a neo-Nazi informant who had used his status to threaten his girlfriend and tried to kill her with a machete. Although there was no 'deliberate attempt' to mislead, the high court held that MI5's subsequent explanations could not be relied on – and has asked a watchdog to examine if a contempt of court prosecution should be brought. Ken McCallum, the head of MI5, offered a 'full and unreserved apology for the errors made in these proceedings' and said the domestic spy agency would work with the authorities to resolve the embarrassing case. It will now be for the investigatory powers commissioner to determine if there should be a prosecution for misleading the courts because MI5 had explained itself in a 'piecemeal and unsatisfactory way', the high court ruled. At the heart of the story is a neo-Nazi informant, a foreign national known only as X, whose behaviour was the subject of an investigation by the BBC. At one point he attacked his girlfriend, Beth (not her real name), with a machete – an episode she filmed on her mobile phone. Kate Ellis, of the Centre for Women's Justice, who represents Beth, said the court judgment amounted to a 'clear rejection' of the explanations that had been provided by MI5 reports and a 'very serious warning' to the agency to cooperate with any further investigations. She said it was important vindication for Beth 'to see that the courts have not accepted MI5's unsatisfactory explanations at face value and are taking these matters so seriously'. Although one MI5 officer, its communications director, had told the BBC that X was a confidential source in 2020, another senior officer, Witness A, had given evidence that was relied on in three separate cases that declined to confirm the fact, casting a degree of doubt on the BBC reporting. Three years ago, Suella Braverman, then attorney general, had applied to the courts for an injunction to prevent the BBC from identifying X. Witness A gave evidence in that case neither confirming or denying whether X was an informer for MI5 – the standard policy adopted by the British state. Afterwards, Beth's account of events was made public but X's identity was and remained secret. According to previous reports, he has left the UK. On Wednesday, the court described Witness A's statement as 'false evidence' and complained that it had been relied on in the injunction proceedings and in two subsequent cases relating to a human rights complaint brought by Beth against MI5. MI5 is deciding whether to take disciplinary action against some of its own staff after an internal investigation. The spy agency also commissioned an external review by Jonathan Jones KC into the affair, which was seen by the judges in the case. According to their judgment, Jones concluded that 'false evidence was given because of a series of mistakes, some systemic and some personal, but that there was no deliberate attempt by any MI5 staff member to mislead the court'. Richard Hermer, the attorney general, admitted Witness A's evidence was false in January and finally confirmed that X was an agent a few weeks ago, because of 'the exceptional circumstances of this case'. However, the high court had been invited to consider by Beth's legal team 'how did the attorney general and MI5 come to deploy false evidence before the court' and what action should be taken next. The three judges, Sue Carr, the lady chief justice of England and Wales, Dame Victoria Sharp, president of the king's bench division, and Mr Justice Chamberlain, said there should be a review of the government's use of its neither confirm nor deny policy (NCND) regarding the identity of informers or agents. 'The use of NCND in these proceedings, and its maintenance until the very last minute, raises wider concerns,' the judges said, and they invited parties to the case 'to file submissions' as to the appropriateness of the policy.
Times
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Times
MI5 to face inquiry over false evidence on neo-Nazi informant
Senior judges have ordered an independent investigation into how MI5 provided false information to three courts in the case of a neo-Nazi informant accused of subjecting his girlfriend to a reign of terror. The High Court said that two official investigations by the Security Service suffered from 'serious procedural deficiencies' and it could not rely on their conclusions. It said a robust and independent inquiry was required before they could determine whether any individuals at the spy agency will face contempt of court proceedings. Sir Ken McCallum, director-general of MI5, reiterated his 'full and unreserved' apology over the failings. The case first went to court in 2022 when the government tried to stop the BBC from publishing a story about one of MI5's agents, alleged to be a right-wing extremist who had hoarded Nazi paraphernalia. The informant was accused of using his status to subject his girlfriend to abuse including attacking her with a machete. The BBC was allowed to report the case but blocked from identifying the individual. During that hearing and other related proceedings MI5 emphasised the importance of its policy to 'neither confirm nor deny', known as NCND, the existence of its intelligence assets. It gave information to three courts saying the policy had not been breached. However, the BBC provided evidence, including notes and recordings of phone calls with MI5, that showed this was false and that it had disclosed the status of the agent, while urging an end to a journalist's investigation into him. Lawyers on behalf of MI5 apologised earlier this year and carried out two investigations, which concluded the false evidence was given due to a series of mistakes with no deliberate attempt by any staff member to mislead. Baroness Carr, the lady chief justice, said that a further investigation should be carried out on behalf of Sir Brian Leveson, the investigatory powers commissioner, who oversees the intelligence services. Before that it would be 'premature to reach any conclusions on whether to initiate contempt proceedings against any individual', she said. Carr, sitting with Dame Victoria Sharp and Mr Justice Chamberlain, said: 'The investigations carried out by MI5 to date suffer from serious procedural deficiencies. Their conclusions cannot presently be relied on.' The panel said that MI5's position was 'compounded by inadequate attempts to explain the circumstances', and that it 'chose to maintain NCND long after it was unrealistic to do so'. They added: 'It is regrettable that MI5's explanations to this court were given in a piecemeal and unsatisfactory way — and only following the repeated intervention of the court.' The judges said they accepted the 'genuineness of the apologies proffered on behalf of MI5 [but] the fact remains that this case has raised serious issues'. McCallum said: 'I wish to repeat my full and unreserved apology for the errors made in these proceedings. We take our duty to provide truthful, accurate and complete information with the utmost seriousness. 'Resolving this matter to the court's satisfaction is of the highest priority for MI5 and we are committed to co-operating fully with the investigatory powers commissioner's office and the court. 'MI5 is now embarked on a programme of work to learn all lessons and implement changes to ensure this does not happen again. This programme will build in external challenge and expertise with independent assurance to the Home Secretary on our progress. 'MI5's job is to keep the country safe. Maintaining the trust of the courts is essential to that mission.' A BBC spokesman said it was pleased judges acknowledged the role of its journalist in bringing the issue to light, adding: 'We believe our journalism on this story has always been in the highest public interest.'
