An alleged member of a neo-Nazi terror cell has told a court he first entered right-wing politics as a Donald Trump supporter.<\/p>\n
Samuel Whibley, 29, is charged with disseminating terrorist publications and encouraging terrorism using the encrypted Telegram messaging app.<\/p>\n
Sheffield Crown Court heard he set up a channel and linked chat where neo-Nazi propaganda and bomb manuals were shared.<\/p>\n
Prosecutors allege the groups were about finding the ways and means to copy those responsible for the worst extreme right-wing atrocities, and another of the members is accused of trying to make explosives and a 3D-printed gun.<\/p>\n
Giving evidence at the trial, Mr Whibley denied being a neo-Nazi or wanting to encourage terror attacks.<\/p>\n
While being questioned by a defence barrister, he said he did not have an interest in politics before he started studying for a forestry degree at Bangor University in 2019.<\/p>\n
Mr Whibley told the jury he made a new group of friends, including an American student called Noah.<\/p>\n
I started off at the lower end of right-wing politics, I was a Trump supporter from the beginning in 2016, he added. <\/p>\n
Noah was very republican and an ardent supporter of Trump he introduced me to right-wing memes, he would send them to me.<\/p>\n
Mr Whibley said that as time went on he started looking at more right-wing material, then downloaded Telegram in autumn 2020.<\/p>\n
He told jurors that he initially joined groups dedicated to survivalism and prepping, because he had been involved in doomsday prepping for a number of years.<\/p>\n
I found my way into some right-leaning groups, most of which were based in the US and followed the kind of activity going on around the changeover from the Trump to Biden administration, the defendant said.<\/p>\n
He described following the build-up to the Capitol riot in January 2021, saying it felt like it was going to be some kind of end-of-the-world event.<\/p>\n
The Oaken Hearth Telegram channel was used by the defendants to recruit neo-Nazis and share terrorist material <\/p>\n
(Telegram)<\/p>\n
Mr Whibley said he found the riot quite frightening while watching footage of it, and that it brought out a sense of paranoia.<\/p>\n
The previous day, he had set up the Oaken Hearth Telegram Channel, which was described on the app as a public house and gathering place for British white nationalists.<\/p>\n
The channels logo incorporated a black sun symbol, which the court heard was linked to Nazism, but Mr Whibley said he chose it because it was aesthetic and linked to a love of nature.<\/p>\n
The defendant told jurors he originally intended the channel to be for preppers and survivalists but decided that to increase following numbers he needed to attract right-wing preppers.<\/p>\n
The court was shown numerous racist memes and posts by Mr Whibley, including some talking about murdering n*****s and ethnic cleansing.<\/p>\n
He denied holding those views himself and said he was caught up in the group mentality and trying to fit in.<\/p>\n
The defendant said he was not trying to encourage terrorism with violent posts, and that they were nonsense or meant as a sick joke.<\/p>\n
Mr Whibley admitted sharing a post that urged those who are capable of action to work together but claimed to have copied and pasted the text from elsewhere, rather than writing it himself.<\/p>\n
No more lone wolf take a few with me s***, as much as we love it isnt good enough. Work in teams and cause utter mayhem when you strike, said the post.<\/p>\n
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Alleged member of neo-Nazi terror cell says he entered right-wing politics as a Donald Trump supporter - The Independent<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" An alleged member of a neo-Nazi terror cell has told a court he first entered right-wing politics as a Donald Trump supporter. Samuel Whibley, 29, is charged with disseminating terrorist publications and encouraging terrorism using the encrypted Telegram messaging app Continue reading