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Teen charged with terror offences appears in court
TL;DR
A 17-year-old has been charged with 16 terror-related offenses, including making explosives and possessing a firearm. He appeared in court and denied all charges, with the case now sent to the Old Bailey.
Key points
- 17-year-old charged with 16 terror offenses
- Allegations include making explosives and possessing a firearm
- Case sent to the Old Bailey for further proceedings
A 17-year-old facing terror charges and allegations he cooked up explosives and created a homemade gun has appeared in court and denied 16 charges.
The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested at home in south Norfolk in April last year and faces charges including making explosives, having a firearm, possessing and distributing terror manuals and stirring up racial hatred.
He is also accused of "catfishing" men online to blackmail them over sexual images and is alleged to have produced deepfake sexual images of six teenage girls.
Appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday, he was accompanied by his parents and the case was sent to the Old Bailey.
At the magistrates' court hearing, the boy spoke to confirm his name, age and address and enter his 16 not guilty pleas to the following charges:
- one of possession of a record containing information useful to terrorism
- five of making an explosive substance for unlawful purpose
- two of distributing or circulating a terrorist publication
- two charges of distributing written material to stir up racial hatred
- one of racially or religiously aggravated criminal damage
- one of possession of a firearm without a certificate
- two of blackmail
- one of criminal damage
- one of making six indecent photographs of children
Details on the charge sheet included using match heads and potassium nitrate to make homemade explosives in April 2025 and the court heard he created "black powder" and "improvised flash powder".
In March last year, it is alleged he put up a poster from a white supremacist group, distributed "threatening, abusive or insulting" flyers with the intention "to stir up racial hatred" and put up white supremacist graffiti on a wall belonging to his local council.
On the blackmail charges, it is alleged he posed online as a teenage girl to lure men into sending sexual images and then used these to try to extort money.
He is also accused of lifting pictures of teenage girls from social media and turning them into deepfake sexual images.
Following the hearing, he was released on bail on condition he slept at home each night, notified police of any devices he had which could access the internet, did not carry spray cans in public, did not contact witnesses and did not try to leave the country.
The case is next due to be heard at the Old Bailey in central London on 15 May.
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Q&A
What charges does the 17-year-old face in court?
The teenager faces charges including making explosives, possessing a firearm, distributing terror manuals, and stirring up racial hatred.
Why was the teenager arrested in Norfolk?
He was arrested at home in south Norfolk in April last year for allegedly creating explosives and a homemade gun.
What is the significance of the case being sent to the Old Bailey?
The Old Bailey is a central criminal court in London, indicating the seriousness of the charges against the teenager.
