A Northumberland teenager has been convicted by a jury for multiple terrorism offences.
The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was found guilty of offences including membership of a proscribed organisation, possession and distribution of terrorist publications, following a four-week trial at Leeds Crown Court. Sentencing will take place on Friday 27 March.
The teenager, who was 15 at the time, was arrested as part of an intelligence led operation by Counter Terrorism Policing North East, supported by Northumbria Police, on February 20, 2025, from his home address in Northumberland.
Evidence recovered followed his arrest revealed a deep-seated extreme right wing mindset. Items such as body armour, masks, flags and components for explosives were all seized, along with 22 weapons including knives, a crossbow and air soft rifles.
A significant element to his offending was discovered when officers seized his phones and computer. Officers downloaded 4.8TB of teenager’s messages and computer files, with a total of 253,005 messages. He was part of 25 extreme right wing online chat groups on platforms such as Telegram, Snapchat, TikTok and Wire. The defendant told the court he created an online persona to escape reality and his use of online platforms and social media escalated through his childhood.
Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, said: “This case provides a stark reminder around the dangers of extreme content online that is accessible to the public and how individuals can be drawn into serious offending.
“Possession of terrorist publications and sharing them with others is a serious offence and the impact of this is not restricted to online activity. All too often we see the real-world implications of individuals who have been influenced by such material or even motivated to plan or take part in terrorist activity, which is what we discovered here.
“Unfortunately, we know that nationally more and more young people are being exposed to harmful content online.
“Internet Matters provides practical advice to parents on how to help their children navigate the ever-changing digital landscape. Every year thousands of reports from the public help police tackle the terrorist threat.
“If you see or hear anything that doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts and report it in confidence at gov.uk/ACT. You won’t be wasting our time. In an emergency, always call 999.”
Chief Superintendent Kevin Waring, area commander for Northumberland, said: “We recognise the concern these type of cases can create, especially when they centre on an individual who has lived within our area.
“We have worked closely with our partners throughout this case, including Counter Terrorism Policing, and thank them for their efforts and support.
“We want to reassure our communities that we are here for you and we are committed to working together to keep you safe.
“If anyone does have concerns in relation to this case, then please do speak to us.
“We would always encourage people to remain vigilant and if you do become worried about someone you know, see or hear something concerning then please come forward.
“You can share information at gov.uk/ACT. In an emergency, call 999.”