Teen faces retrial in Old Bailey terrorism case

The jury in the trial of a Loughborough teenager accused of planning a repeat of the Columbine high school massacre has been discharged after failing to reach a verdict on his terrorism charges.

The 17-year-old boy, who cannot be named because of his age, was accused of stockpiling weapons for an assault on his former school in Loughborough, as well as naming a sixth-form college, a local mosque, cinema and council offices as potential targets.

Recorder of London Judge Brian Barker QC discharged the jury of six men and six women on Wednesday after they failed to reach verdict on both counts following six days of deliberations. A hearing will take place at the Old Bailey on December 12 to set a date for a retrial.

During the six-week trial, the boy pleaded guilty to one count of possessing explosives in the form of component parts of improvised explosive devices.

Loughborough Echo, 20 November 2013