A teenager accused of planning a terror attack made videos containing threats against Muslims, a court heard. The jury at the Old Bailey were shown footage of Michael Piggin, 18, talking about an “invasion of our country”.
He is alleged to have planned attacks on targets in his hometown of Loughborough, Leicestershire, including a mosque, a cinema and a school. The teenager denies two charges under the Terrorism Act but has admitted having explosives found in his house.
The jury heard the defendant referring to the URA in several of the clips, which they were told stood for the Urban Revolutionary Army. In one video, Mr Piggin, who has Asperger’s Syndrome, said: “Hello great people of the United Kingdom, we are the URA, we support the EDL and the Knights Templar. We are against the Muslim invasion of our country. If you are looking at us… we will kill you, yeah – we are willing to take arms to fight for this country.”
The court was also shown footage of him practicing with petrol bombs, talking about testing bombs and using an air pistol for target practice. The prosecution said that, taken together with other evidence, it showed that the defendant was serious about preparing an act of terrorism.
Mr Piggin, of Beaumont Road, Shelthorpe, admits three charges of possessing explosives but denies possessing articles for a purpose connected with terrorism and having a document containing information likely to be useful for committing or preparing an act of terrorism. He also denies possession of the Mujahideen Poisons Handbook, which is banned under terrorism laws.
The trial continues.