Covid-denier ‘encouraged terror response to lockdown’

A Covid-denier encouraged terrorist attacks in response to lockdown and the vaccination rollout while collecting a crossbow and knives, a court heard.

Paul Martin, 60, was part of a Telegram group called ‘The Resistance UK’ during Covid which had 8,000 members.

He was allegedly found with a crossbow, arrows and knives at his home on 29 September 2021.

Martin denies encouragement of terrorism on the Telegram group between 15 December 2020 and 29 September 2021.

He also denies possessing an article in circumstances that give rise to a reasonable suspicion that your purpose was the instigation or preparation of an act of terrorism.

He is said to have possessed a knife, two crossbows and arrows for terrorist purposes.

Prosecutor Julia Faure Walker said: ‘Between December 2020 and September 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic the defendant posted messages online which would likely be understood as encouraging serious violence and disruption designed to influence the government or intimidate a section of the public.

‘He also encouraged the use of explosives.

‘He was vehemently against the measures brought in by the then government in response to the pandemic including the lockdown and vaccination roll out.

‘He believed the pandemic was fake, the vaccine was dangerous and designed to be so, and people needed to wake up to what he believed.

‘It was this ideological cause that drove the messages encouraging violence and other action.

‘It is not of course illegal to believe in an ideology but rather than restricting himself to advocating change by protest, he instead reverted to advocating violence, criminal damage and the destruction of electronic communication systems.

‘This is not a situation where someone made just one or two posts online, rather he posted repeatedly.

‘He referred to his weapons when posting online and encouraged other to acquire weapons to use them in an attack.

‘When police came to his home in September 2021 they found crossbows, arrows and knives.

‘The items he possessed gave rise to a reasonable suspicion he intended them to be used in a purpose for the preparation or commission of acts of terrorism.’

Ms Faure Walker said Martin joined ‘Resistance UK’ in December 2020.

‘The title of the group reflect the feeling that they should resist the lockdown and other measures in place,’ she said.

Martin, of Suffolk Road, Croydon, denies encouragement of terrorism and possession of an article in circumstances that give rise to a reasonable suspicion that your purpose was the instigation or preparation of an act of terrorism.

The trial continues.
ends