Teenager Convicted of Terrorism Offences: Extreme Right-Wing Mindset Exposed

Following a four-week trial at Leeds Crown Court. A jury has convicted a Northumberland teenager of multiple terrorism offences. The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty of offences including:

• Membership of a proscribed organisation, possession and distribution of terrorist publications,

The jury convicted him of:

• Being a member of the banned neo-Nazi organisation The Base,
• As well as possessing and sharing terror publications.

However, they could not reach a verdict on the charge of preparing acts of terrorism, and the Crown Prosecution Service decided against a retrial.

Evidence included:

• Violent journal entries, a video of the New Zealand mosque attack, and searches for synagogues in Newcastle.

The defendant claimed the thoughts were not intended to harm anyone in reality.

Sentencing will take place on Friday, 27 March.

The teenager, who was 15 at the time, was arrested as part of an intelligence-led operation by Counter Terrorism Policing North East, supported by Northumbria Police, on February 20, 2025, at his home address in Northumberland.

Evidence recovered following his arrest revealed a deep-seated, extreme right-wing mindset. Items such as body armour, masks, flags and components for explosives were all seized, along with 22 weapons, including knives, a crossbow and airsoft rifles.

Additional findings included a replica Nazi Schutzstaffel (SS)-style cap, a full-sized skeleton with a mask, posters related to The Base (the banned neo-Nazi group), and an air rifle in his bedroom.

A significant element of his offending was discovered when officers seized his phones and computer.

• Officers downloaded 4.8 TB of the teenager’s messages and computer files, totalling 253,005 messages.

He was part of 25 extreme-right online chat groups on platforms such as Telegram, Snapchat, TikTok, and Wire. The defendant told the court he created an online persona to escape reality, and his use of online platforms and social media escalated throughout his childhood.

Det Ch Supt James Dunkerley, head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, stated: "This case provides a stark reminder of the dangers of extreme content online that is accessible to the public and how individuals can be drawn into serious offending."

During the trial, it was revealed that the boy had amassed weapons and researched local synagogues, with prosecutors alleging he aimed for a “white supremacist utopia.” He denied preparing acts of terrorism, being a member of a proscribed organisation, possessing terror documents, and publishing terror publications. The defence highlighted his bullying at school, loneliness, and interest in history and the military.

Web News Sources

1. Counter Terrorism Policing: Warning around extreme content online as teenager is convicted of terrorism offences - https://www.counterterrorism.police.uk/warning-around-extreme-content-online-as-teenager-is-convicted-of-terrorism-offences
2. BBC News: Northumberland teen guilty over banned neo-Nazi group membership - https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c77k0yddpgjo
3. The Northern Echo: No retrial for North East teenager accused of plotting terrorist attack - https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/25879110.no-retrial-northumberland-teen-accused-terror-plot/
4. The Guardian: Boy planning terrorist acts wanted 'white supremacist utopia', Leeds court told - https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jan/13/boy-planning-terrorist-acts-wanted-white-supremacist-utopia-leeds-court-told
5. BBC News: Terror plot accused 'struggled to make friends' - https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3dmmr40g4yo
6. ITV News: Jury out in trial of Northumberland teenager accused of planning attack on synagogues - https://www.itv.com/news/tyne-tees/2026-02-02/jury-out-in-trial-of-teenager-accused-of-planning-attack-on-synagogues
7. The Telegraph: Neo-Nazi teenager prepared an arsenal of weapons for terror attack - https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/01/13/neo-nazi-teenager-prepared-weapons-terror-attack-synagogue
8. https://www.counterterrorism.police.uk/warning-around-extreme-content-online-as-teenager-is-convicted-of-terrorism-offences/