A Nazi gang who stockpiled weapons including a 3D-printed assault rifle have been jailed for 29 years for plotting a terror attack on a mosque.
Detectives believe Brogan Stewart, 25, Marco Pitzettu, 25, and Christopher Ringrose, 34, were on the verge of carrying out a deadly racist attack in Leeds when they pounced. The trio were part of an online group who idolised the Nazis. Their stash of 200 weapons including crossbows, axes, machetes, swords, knuckle dusters and hunting knives were found during raids on properties in Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire. An almost completed FGC-9 Mk II printed assault rifle was also uncovered.
The men were sourcing the components to complete the weapon. They are said to have joined forces over Facebook and allegedly wanted to start a race war.
They had planned a training session in Derbyshire woodland as they prepared the attack on the al-Amin Islamic Educational Centre in Leeds. Police stepped in when they feared the group were going ahead with the plot using firearms, explosives and bladed weapons.
The men, who had never met in person, were placed under surveillance when counter terrorism officers infiltrated their group. Officers from Counter Terrorism Policing North East raided their homes in February last year and found plans to attack mosques, Islamic centres and synagogues.
They admired Adolf Hitler and shared far-right propaganda from agitator Tommy Robinson and discussed attacking migrant accommodation. Gang leader Stewart, who was unemployed and lived with his elderly mother in Tingley, West Yorks, issued the commands. Pitzettu and Ringrose were meanwhile named as his "engineers" and the men were tasked with sourcing body armour, gas masks, riot gear and rations.
Mobile mechanic Pitzettu, who lived with his family in Derby, had also bought an illegal stun gun, while married father-of-two Ringrose, a car factory builder from Cannock, built the 3D gun.
All three were found guilty following a trial earlier this year of a charge of preparing acts of terrorism and charges of collecting information likely to be useful to a person preparing or committing an act of terrorism. Ringrose was also convicted of manufacturing a prohibited weapon at Sheffield crown court.
Det Chief Supt James Dunkerley, head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, said: "They were a group that espoused vile racial views and advocated for violence. I believe that had we not stepped in, they would have gone on to commit a real world atrocity. The consequences could have been horrific."