Three Nazi extremists who amassed an arsenal of 200 weapons and discussed attacks on mosques and synagogues in England have been convicted of plotting a terrorist attack.
Among the seized weapons was a 3D-printed gun that was nearly operational. The planned attack was thwarted when an undercover police inspector infiltrated the self-proclaimed Nazi cell, according to The Guardian.
The three men are Christopher Ringrouz (34) from Cannock, Marco Picetu (25) from Derby, and Brogan Stuart (25) from West Yorkshire, who formed a virtual cell and never met in person.
They admired Adolf Hitler, spread anti-immigrant rhetoric, shared materials from far-right activist Tommy Robinson, and discussed attacks on locations frequented by migrants in the UK.
The jury at Sheffield Crown Court found them guilty of multiple terrorism-related offenses and weapons possession, with the judge warning them to expect long prison sentences.
Their arsenal included deactivated guns they attempted to restore, crossbows, hunting knives, and tomahawks.
The 3D-printed gun was made following instructions found online and required only a firing pin, bolt, and barrel to become a deadly weapon.
They identified an Islamic center in Leeds as a target and discussed kidnapping and torturing an imam, planned routes, methods of evasion, and escape plans.
Stuart declared himself the "führer" (leader) and imposed rules for group members to wear Nazi uniforms.
He named the group "Einsatz 14," referring to Nazi death squads, and appointed Picetu and Ringrouz as "armament officers."
Believing in racial war, the group criticized other far-right groups for not taking action.
Using Telegram, a messaging app, Stuart wrote that other far-right groups "just sit and talk."
"I want to gather my group because actions speak louder than words," he wrote.
Stuart added: "I'd also like to beat up gays" and "I want to storm government buildings and hang politicians. The government is full of Jews and other enemies."
They were arrested on February 20, 2024, after the group was infiltrated by an undercover officer codenamed "Blackheart."
Their intended targets for harassment and attacks included mosques, Islamic educational centers, and synagogues.
Inspired by SS Units
Ringrouz, a manager at an auto parts company, posted a photo of his one-year-old son wearing a skull mask with the caption "choose violence," while Picetu, a mechanic, shared footage of the Christchurch mosque massacre.
Stuart, the self-proclaimed leader, had never held a job and lived with his mother.
In a group phone call on February 5, two weeks before their arrest, Stuart outlined an attack plan involving "cruising around" looking for "human targets" near an Islamic educational center, "doing what needs to be done, then coming to mine for tea, medals, and debrief."
Stuart wanted the group to "socialize, bond, and strengthen their brotherhood." The meeting was canceled due to bad weather.
At the trial's opening, prosecutor Jonathan Sandiford KC said: "The defendants identified potential locations and targets, and the imminent threat of an attack was the reason for their arrest."
The court noted that Stuart said about the group's ideology: "Personally, I found inspiration in the SS" and added: "I hope we can blackmail political opponents and perhaps plan operations to deal with migrants arriving on our shores."
Detective Chief Inspector James Dunkerley, head of the Northern Counter Terrorism Unit, said: "This was a group that propagated vile racist views and advocated violence to support their extreme right-wing beliefs. All three took concrete steps in the real world to plan and prepare an attack on innocent citizens."
Bethan David, head of the Counter Terrorism Division of the Prosecution Service, said: "These extremists planned violent terrorist acts against synagogues, mosques, and an Islamic educational center.
By their own admission, they were inspired by SS tactics and supremacist ideology.
'Had Christopher Ringrouz succeeded in completing the semi-automatic firearm with a 3D printer, the consequences could have been catastrophic,' she stated.
Their sentencing is scheduled for July 17.
