Mosque plotter ‘was inspired by Brenton Tarrant’

A 14-year-old schoolboy accused of plotting to attack two mosques was inspired by Christchurch mass killer Brenton Trarrant, a court heard today (thurs).

The teenager was first arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage in Sutton, south London, on 9 July after he threw a brick through a car window.

Police then searched his home and found evidence that he was planning to attack two mosques in Sutton, it was said.

The boy was inspired by Adolf Hitler and Tarrant, 35, who was jailed for life for murdering 51 people in the March 2019 attack on two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.

The teenager appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court wearing grey prison clothes, and denied preparing acts of terrorism contrary to Section 5 of the Terrorism Act and racially aggravated criminal damage.

Adam Harbinson, prosecuting, said: ‘He was initially arrested on 9 July . He was initially arrested on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage in respect to a brick being thrown through a car window.’

‘Following his arrest a number of items were seized from his home address.’

The police found evidence that he was plotting a terror attack, including a manifesto in which he expressed his admiration for Hitler, Tarrant and Anders Breivik, a neo-Nazi who is serving a 21-year prison sentence, for killing 77 people in the 2011 terrorist attacks in Norway.

‘It became apparent that he had plans to carry out an act of terrorism on 28 August, namely to attack worshippers in two mosques in Sutton.’

‘In his manifesto he referred to having been inspired by Adolf Hitler, Brenton Tarrant and Anders Breivik.’

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring told the boy: ‘Having pleaded not guilty there now has to be a trial.’

‘You will next appear at the Central Criminal Court on 21 August this year.’
ends