‘Neo-Nazi bought Roman sword to kill Labour MP’
AN Alleged member of Rightwing terror group National Action appeared in court yesterday accused of buying a Roman sword to kill an MP.
The former politics and economics student was accused of committing an act of terrorism by planning to kill labour’s Rosie Cooper, who has represented West lancashire since 2005.
The 22-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is also accused of threatening to kill a detective constable.
He is alleged to have told other members of banned neo-Nazi group National Action about his plans to use a ‘gladius machete’ at a pub in Warrington, Cheshire, on July 1.
The former student, allegedly the group’s spokesman, was said to have asked for permission to murder the MP at the meeting. Christopher lythgoe, 31, the alleged regional leader of the group, was accused of ‘giving permission’ to kill Miss Cooper.
The two defendants appeared in Westminster Magistrates’ Court yesterday along with four other men. All six are accused of belonging to National Action, which became the first extreme Rightwing organisation to be banned under terror laws last december.
The group was proscribed under powers outlawing glorification of terrorism – meaning it is a crime, punishable by up to ten years’ jail, to be a member or supporter.
Kiernan Cunningham, prosecuting, told the court that the six defendants group had been were proscribed. fully aware the
He said: ‘The prosecution’s case is these gentlemen simply continued. They changed their activities slightly, in that they no longer attended demonstrations. But they had numerous covert meetings.’
He said two members rented a unit in the Warrington area so the group could hold training sessions. ‘That training – martial arts training, unarmed combat training, and edged weapon training – was compulsory for all members of National Action,’ he said.
‘The prosecution say all members attended that training at some point and, in doing so, further illustrated their connection to this proscribed organisation.’ Mr Cunningham alleged the meeting at a pub was called for the 22-year- old ‘to seek permission from the hierarchy of that group to commit an act of murder’, adding: ‘during the course of that meeting, they were all there.’
lythgoe, from Warrington, and the 22-year- old, from Skelmersdale, lancashire, were remanded into custody along with garron Helm, 24, of Seaforth, Merseyside, Matthew Hankinson, 23, of Newton- le- Willows, Merseyside, Andrew Clarke, 33, and Michael Trubini, 35, both of Warrington.
The six, who indicated that they will plead not guilty, will appear at the Old Bailey on Friday.
On Thursday Miss Cooper, 67, thanked police for ‘keeping me, my staff and the public safe’. She is understood to privately have continued concerns for her safety.
The charges come almost a year after white supremacist Thomas Mair was convicted of murdering MP Jo Cox. The Nazi admirer shouted ‘Britain first’ as he killed the 41-year-old mother of two.
Miss Cooper paid tribute to her colleague after the murder in June last year. After the killing, National Action posted messages including: ‘Our thoughts go out to Thomas Mair,’ and: ‘ don’t let this man’s sacrifice go in vain. Jo Cox would have filled Yorkshire with more sub-humans.’ Another read: ‘Only 649 MPs to go.’
The group has hosted a ‘ Miss Hitler’ contest and posted pictures online of supporters performing Nazi salutes at the Buchenwald concentration camp in germany, where 50,000 were killed.
‘Seek permission to commit murder’