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Three men have been charged with preparing an act of terrorism after discussing a plan to target an Islamic education centre in Leeds in northern England, a court in London heard on Tuesday.
Brogan Stewart from Wakefield and Marco Pitzettu from Derby, both 24, along with Christopher Ringrose, 33, from Cannock, appeared before Westminster magistrates’ court where they were denied bail.
Prosecutors alleged the three men had manufactured a semi-automatic weapon and obtained instructions on how to manufacture a 3D-printed firearm.
The Crown Prosecution Service, the public prosecutor for England and Wales, also told the court the men had identified particular targets for attack. This included a plan they discussed earlier this month to target an Islamic education centre in Leeds along with “human targets” in the area, prosecutors alleged.
The court was told that the accused had obtained “right-wing ideological texts” and joined extreme chat forums.
The men, who have been charged with the intention of committing acts of terrorism or assisting another to commit such acts, appeared before the court via video link and spoke only to confirm their identities. They are due to appear at the Old Bailey in London on March 15.
Counter-terrorism police said the men were arrested on February 20 under the Terrorism Act 2000 following an investigation into “suspected extreme right-wing activity”. Their homes were searched as part of what police described as a “pre-planned, intelligence-led operation”.
Prosecutors alleged the three men were members of a right-wing group on the social media platform Telegram, which provided advice on military training with the aim of preparing an act of terrorism.
A fourth person, a 46-year-old man from Leicester, was also arrested but has been released without charge, police said.
