Neo-Nazi admits plot to kill politician

A NEO-NAZI plotted to murder an MP and police officer for “White Jihad” before committing “suicide by cop” a court has heard.

Alleged National Action spokesman Jack Renshaw, 23, has admitted buying a 19in-long Gladius Machete to kill Labour’s Rosie Cooper last summer.

Afterwards, he threatened to take hostages to lure a police officer to the scene so he could kill her too, jurors heard. He allegedly told fellow National Action members he would pretend he was wearing an explosive vest to commit “suicide by cop”.

Renshaw was given the blessing of National Action leader Christopher Lythgoe, 32 of Warrington, at a meeting in a Warrington pub, the Old Bailey heard. He suggested Renshaw target the Home Secretary instead of “nobody” Ms Cooper, but the idea was rejected as the Minister would be too well protected.

The scheme was foiled by disenchanted former National Action member Robbie Mullen, who reported the threat to the charity Hope Not Hate.

On the opening day of his trial, Renshaw pleaded guilty to preparing acts of terrorism as well as making a threat to kill Det Con Victoria Henderson.

But he denies being a member of National Action, along with Lythgoe and four other men.

Prosecutor Duncan Atkinson QC claimed they were all part of the North-West area branch of National Action which met at the Friar Penketh pub in Warrington.

In the wake of its support for the murder of Batley & Spen Labour MP Jo Cox, the organisation became the first extreme rightwing group to be proscribed since the Second World War.

Lythgoe denies giving Renshaw permission to murder the MP. The pair – along with Garron Helm, 24, of Seaforth, Merseyside, Matthew Hankinson, 24, of Newton-le-Willows, Merseyside, Andrew Clarke, 33, and Michal Trubini, 35, both of Warrington – also deny membership of the group. The trial continues.