A white supremacist, who wanted to fight a racist war against the "non-British," was convicted by a London court today of plotting acts of terrorism and being on the brink of carrying out bomb attacks.
Neil Lewington (44), was carrying the components for two homemade bombs. He was arrested by chance last October after he had got drunk and urinated in public, leading police to search his bag.
"This man, who had strong if not fanatical right wing leanings and opinions, was on the cusp of embarking on a campaign of terrorism against those he considered non-British," said prosecutor Brian Altman.
"The defendant had in his possession the component parts of two viable improvised incendiary devices. He had the parts which, if assembled together, would have created devices which if ignited would have caught alight and caused flames and fire."
A search of the house he shared with his parents in Reading uncovered bomb-making equipment, instructions on how to convert tennis balls into shrapnel bombs, and a notebook titled "Waffen SS UK members' handbook," the court heard.
The unemployed electrician also had videos and news footage of other racist attackers.
These included David Copeland, a neo-Nazi who carried out three nail bombings in London in 1999, and US Army veteran Timothy McVeigh, who carried out the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City in 1995.
"In addition to his extreme views on race and ethnicity, the defendant had an unhealthy interest in bombers as well as bombings," Mr Altman said.
Lewington, who had been arrested at Lowestoft railway station in Suffolk on his way to visit a woman he had met on the Internet, denied all the charges.
His lawyer David Etherington said there was insufficient evidence to show his client was anything more than an "oddball". He said Lewington was a "silly immature alcoholic dysfunctional twit, fantasising to make up for a rather sad life".
However, Lewington was found guilty at London's Old Bailey court of having explosives with intent to endanger life and preparing for acts of terrorism.
He was remanded in custody for sentencing on September 8th but was warned by the judge he faced a lengthy prison sentence.
Earlier this month, a senior counter-terrorism officer told a Muslim security group that police feared a rise in attacks by far-right groups.
"We treat right wing extremism as seriously as any other form of violent extremism and will continue to investigate such activity with the same determination," John McDowall, head of London's Counter Terrorism Command, said today.
Reuters