A white supremacist who plotted a machete attack on people at a gay pride event has been convicted of a terror offence.<\/p>\n
Ethan Stables, 20, planned to strike at the LGBT event at the New Empire pub in Barrow, Cumbria, in June 2017.<\/p>\n
He claimed he posted comments on Facebook to impress far-right friends and was “ashamed” as he was bisexual.<\/p>\n
Stables was found guilty of preparing an act of terrorism, threats to kill and possessing explosives.<\/p>\n
Leeds Crown Court heard he was planning to use an axe and machete during the attack, but the plan was foiled after he told people about it on Facebook.<\/p>\n
Officers received a tip-off from a member of a far right group, where he posted a message saying he was “going to war” and planned to “slaughter”.<\/p>\n
Armed police swooped on him as he walked towards the pub just before the event.<\/p>\n
The court was told Stables made a series of chilling Google searches including “I want to go on a killing spree”, “how to make chemical poison” and “what is prison like for a murderer”.<\/p>\n
He had also searched for how to make a bomb from matches, and police found a collection of cut-off match heads in his flat.<\/p>\n
At other times he expressed his hatred of Muslims and Jews, and said in a WhatsApp message: “My country is being raped.<\/p>\n
“I might just become a skinhead and kill people.”<\/p>\n
The right-wing extremist had a swastika hanging on his bedroom wall and bought a new Nazi armband after his was taken by police when he was arrested.<\/p>\n
Jurors heard Stables was interested in the Columbine High School massacre and had been expelled from school following an incident in which he put another pupil in a headlock.<\/p>\n
He became radicalised after a trip to Germany to see a young woman, his mother said.<\/p>\n
Stables claimed he was just a fantasist and had been “brainwashed” by right-wing extremists he met when he lived in hostels.<\/p>\n
He was described by his barrister as “lonely and inadequate” and as having an autism spectrum condition.<\/p>\n
Stables was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing later this week.<\/p>\n
Source: bbc.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"