Terror-accused discussed torturing imams - trial

One of three men accused of planning terrorist attacks discussed torturing a Muslim leader using an "information extraction kit", a court has heard.

Brogan Stewart spoke of his thinking with an undercover police officer on a social media app, Sheffield Crown Court was told on Thursday.

The jury had earlier heard Mr Stewart, 25, from West Yorkshire, Christopher Ringrose, 34, from Staffordshire, and Marco Pitzettu, 25, from Derbyshire, were "right-wing extremists" preparing to use firearms, explosives and blades in attacks.

All three deny a charge of preparing acts of terrorism and charges of collecting information likely to be useful to a person preparing or committing an act of terrorism.

Mr Ringrose also denies manufacturing a prohibited weapon.

Jonathan Sandiford KC, prosecuting, told the court that Mr Stewart said to the undercover officer, who he called "Blackheart", that they needed to establish a "new einsatzgruppe" - a reference to Adolf Hitler's SS death squad.

On the Telegram social media app, the defendant explained to the officer how he had what he called an "information extraction kit", which included a blowtorch, pliers, gaffer tape, a screwdriver, bleach and a syringe.

Mr Stewart had detailed torturing victims such as "local imams" and added nothing "loosened up" people "like seeing a syringe filled with bleach", Mr Sandiford said.

The prosecutor also explained how Mr Stewart had set up a group called Einsatz 14, with him as "Fuhrer" and Blackheart as the "Obergruppenfuhrer", which the other two defendants also joined.

Mr Sandiford said that when Blackheart asked him about the group's ideology, Mr Stewart replied: "Personally, I've taken inspiration from the SS."

He said Mr Stewart, from Tingley, near Leeds, added: "I also hope we can extort political rivals and potentially plan operations to meet migrants landing on our beaches and deal with them."

The court heard that Mr Stewart sent the undercover officer a list of "standard uniform" for the group, which included a Black SS helmet, "mask, balaclava, skull face mask or anything to hide identity", as well as a swastika armband.

Jurors were told by Mr Sandiford that the three men were arrested after security services believed an attack could be imminent.

Mr Ringrose had begun to build a 3D-printed semi-automatic firearm and was trying to acquire the remaining parts, the prosecutor said.

The trial continues.

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