Three neo-Nazi extremists have been sentenced to a combined 29 years in prison for plotting terror attacks on Islamic centres and other religious sites. Christopher Ringrose (34) received 10 years, Marco Pitzettu (25) got eight years, and Brogan Stewart (25) was handed 11 years at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday.
The trio had formed an online hate group where they styled themselves as Nazi officers and targeted the al-Amin Islamic Educational Centre in Leeds for their first planned attack. Stewart established himself as "Fuhrer" and appointed the others as "armourers", encouraging them to acquire deadly firearms and explosives.
Massive weapons stockpile uncovered
The group amassed more than 200 weapons including machetes, swords, crossbows, axes, hunting knives and an illegal stun gun. Ringrose had 3D-printed most components needed to build a semi-automatic firearm and was actively seeking the remaining parts to complete the weapon.
Counter-terrorism police infiltrated their online hate group using undercover officers, preventing what prosecutors described as attacks "escalating in nature". The group had specifically targeted the Islamic education centre as their first operation, with plans to later attack mosques, synagogues and other religious sites.
Nazi-style recruitment and planning
Stewart told an undercover officer they needed to set up a "new einsatzgruppe" - referencing Hitler's SS death squads. He sent the officer a Nazi-style uniform complete with helmet, balaclava and swastika armband.
Potential recruits were asked questions including their opinions on Hitler's SS and explicit racial hatred queries targeting minorities. When planning the Leeds attack, Stewart told the undercover officer it could range from "a beating with batons and bats or something more serious".
Court proceedings and mitigation
Prosecutor Jonathan Sandiford KC told Sheffield Crown Court the defendants had an "intention to commit acts of extremism which involved killing of multiple victims". He said they "justified, encouraged and glorified serious violence against and killing of persons of other races effectively seen as inferior and unworthy of human dignity or indeed life".
Stewart's defence argued many messages were "pure fantasy" and cited childhood trauma. Pitzettu showed positive attitude in prison whilst Ringrose had withdrawn from the group before arrests, the court heard.
Sources used: "Metro", "Mirror" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
