Brit soldier accused of being in neo-Nazi group with two others ‘downloaded mass murderer Anders Breivik’s manifesto and had pepper spray’
A BRITISH soldier accused of being a member of a banned neo-Nazi terror group downloaded the manifesto of Norwegian mass murderer Anders Breivik, a court heard today.
Lance Corporal Mikko Vevhilainen, 32, appeared in the dock alongside Private Mark Barrett, 24, and civilian Alexander Deakin, 22, who are also accused of being members of National Action.
All three are charged with being members of the far-right organisation - which was outlawed under counter-terrorism laws last December.
Vevhilainen is also accused of being in possession of a document titled "2083: A European Declaration of Independence".
Breivik wrote the racist manifesto before he slaughtered 77 people and wounded more than 300 in a bomb and gun rampage in July 2011.
It is said to contain information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.
Vevhilainen is also charged two counts of publishing written material which is threatening, abusive or insulting.
The charges relate to posts in April and September last year on the website Christogenea.org, which it is alleged were intending to stir up racial hatred.
He also faces another charge of possessing a weapon designed or adapted for the discharge of a noxious liquid, namely pepper spray.
Vevhilainen, wearing grey joggers, a grey sweater and with a short buzz haircut, did not enter pleas at Westminster magistrates court.
Dad-of-two Barrett, also appearing in grey joggers and a grey sweatshirt, with short blonde hair, pleaded not guilty to being a member of the outlawed National Action group.
His lawyer Shane Hennigan said: "The army are standing by this defendant.
"I have personally spoken to a captain in the Army, I don't want to give his name right now but he's very well known to Mr Barrett, they have worked very closely in the army and the captain has been in contact with the commanding officer."
Deakin is charged with having a file on his computer called "Mega Folder" and a document called the "White Resistance Manual for fun".
The are said to contain information of a kind likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.
Deakin is also charged with a third count of having shared a publication called "Ethnic Cleansing Operations" to three people via Skype.
Appearing in the dock wearing a grey sweatshirt, grey jogging bottoms, glasses and with short dark hair, he did not enter pleas.
Before the charges were put to him he said: "I'm a prisoner of conscience and I believe I'm innocent of these charges."
National Action was added to the government's list of outlawed organisations in December 2016 on the grounds it is "virulently racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic".
Prosecutor Jessica Hart said: "These three defendants have all been part of a Telegram chat which the Crown says is being used by National Action to organise post proscription.
"The crown would say they support the aims and objectives of the organisation National Action.
"It's a far right extreme group. It expects a race war and aims to promote a white only community in England."
Vevhilainen, of Sennybridge Camp, Brecon, Barrett, based at Dhekelia Garrison in Cyprus, and Deakin, of Great Barr, West Mids, were remanded in custody.
They will appear next at the Old Bailey on September 21.
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