British 14-year-old, said inspired by Hitler, pleads not guilty to mosques attack plot

LONDON — A British 14-year-old on Thursday denied plotting a terrorist attack on two mosques in south London, which prosecutors say was motivated by extreme right-wing ideology set out in a “manifesto” which said he was inspired by Adolf Hitler.

The teenager appeared at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court and pleaded not guilty to the preparation of terrorist acts relating to the alleged plot.

He also denied an additional charge of racially aggravated criminal damage and was remanded in youth detention until he next appears in court on August 21.

Prosecutor Adam Harbinson said the 14-year-old was arrested earlier this month for throwing a brick through a Black woman’s car window in June, after which devices and notebooks were seized from his bedroom.

The material contained a document setting out his views in which the teenager said he was “inspired” by Hitler, as well as Christchurch mosque shooter Brenton Tarrant and Norwegian mass killer Anders Breivik, Harbinson added.

The prosecutor said the 14-year-old had planned to stab people at the two mosques and had conducted online reconnaissance.

“Putting together the information that was gleaned from the notebooks and information from online activity and a manifesto that were found on the devices, it became apparent that (he) had a plan to carry out an act of terrorism… namely to attack worshippers at two mosques in Sutton,” Harbinson said.

The prosecutor added: “In the manifesto, he refers to having been inspired by Adolf Hitler, Brenton Tarrant and Anders Breivik.”