Three men accused of preparing ‘3D-printed firearm attack’ on Islamic centre
Three men have appeared in court accused of planning to attack an Islamic centre using a 3D-printed firearm.
Brogan Stewart, 24, from Wakefield, Marco Pitzettu, 24, from Derby and Christopher Ringrose, 33, from Cannock, Staffordshire, are charged with preparing an act of terrorism.
The charges allege they obtained extreme right-wing ideological texts and joined extreme right-wing chat forums.
They allegedly acquired material containing instructions on how to manufacture or assemble a 3D-printed firearm and manufactured a 3D semi-automatic firearm called an FGC-9.
The three men are also said to have distributed information on firearms and ammunition and identified potential locations and targets for attack.
The trio are said to have been members of a neo-Nazi chat group on which they shared extreme right-wing propaganda and documents and provided plans and advice on the creation of weapons and training.
Mark Luckett, prosecuting, told the court: “Information came to light earlier this year that the defendants discussed a plan to attack an Islamic education centre in Leeds, as well as identifying human targets in the area.” All three defendants were arrested on 20 February as part of a pre-planned, intelligence-led operation and a 3D printer and component parts for a FGC-9 recovered, the court was told.
A fourth person, a 46-year-old man from Leicester, who was also arrested was later released without charge. The three men appeared at Westminster Magistrates court via video link, wearing grey prison-issue tracksuits, sitting alongside their solicitors.
They spoke only to confirm their names, dates of birth and addresses and were remanded in custody ahead of a hearing at the Old Bailey next month. Applications for bail were denied and no pleas were entered but the men’s lawyers indicated they would contest the charges.