An explosives expert has told jurors that a would-be teenage terrorist had downloaded ‘viable’ methods to create Napalm, explosives and pipe bombs.
Luke Skelton made ‘hostile reconnaissance’ of a potential target as part of his plan to start a race war by blowing up a police station, a jury heard.
The North East teenager researched bombmaking techniques and recipes while posting far-right propaganda across a series of social media accounts, according to the prosecution case.
Explosives expert Lisa Dunn, who is based at the Ministry of Defence’s site at Porton Down, told Teesside Crown Court that the accused had gathered enough information to create a ‘viable’ explosive.
Read next: Murder accused denies kicking, punching and stamping man to death
She said she examined several documents recovered from Skelton and confirmed that the contained recipes and bombmaking instructions.
“One contained list of ingredients which were required and a step-by-step guide to make napalm,” she added.
Ms Dunn then explained to jurors what napalm could be used for and how it is designed to burn for long periods of time after sticking to its intended target.
She said Skelton also had the instructions and explosive recipe using items readily available in shops and garden centres.
The jury heard how the defendant also asked on social media platform, Discord, if anyone knew how to make Thermite basic materials.
When asked what Thermite could be used for, Ms Dunn said the military use it to ‘burn through tanks’.
Nicholas De La Poer KC, prosecuting, confirmed to the jury that none of the ingredients required to make any of the explosive devices were recovered from Skelton’s home in Washington, Tyne and Wear.
Crispin Aylett KC, representing the defendant, asked Ms Dunn whether his client had the full list of ingredients and techniques to create his own devices.
Forth Banks police station in Newcastle
She replied: “There are some gaps but there’s a viable recipe for a low-level explosive.”
Earlier, the court heard how Skelton had developed an interest in France authored a document entitled “Manifesto for the Monarchist Front of France”, which proposed policies for the country aimed at inciting a revolution.
Read more:
Murder trial delayed to allow time for specialist evidence to be gathered Drink-driver took police on high-speed chase through Darlington in works van Dangerous driver spat in officer’s face when he was arrested after car crash If you want to read more stories, why not subscribe to your Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here
The barrister told jurors how Skelton dreamed of returning the country back to the 1900s when it was at its peak of Imperialism and ethnic diversity was very limited and shared his vision with people on social media.
The defendant carried out a ‘hostile reconnaissance’ of Forth Bank police station before he was arrested last September and his mobile phone and computer system were seized by counter-terrorism officers.
Skelton, of Oxclose, Washington, denies a charge of preparing to commit acts of terrorism.
The trial, which is expected to last two weeks, continues.