Teen joked about shooting peers, twin tells court

The teenager appeared at Inner London Crown Court to deny making an explosive substance with intent to endanger life

A teenager accused of possessing firearms and making explosives made jokes about attacking his classmates with makeshift guns, a court has heard.

Sakhile Ntsele, 18, of Wandsworth, south-west London, was allegedly found with multiple explosive devices when police visited his home after a fight with his brother in October 2024.

Mr Ntsele's twin, Sandhile Ntsele, told jurors his brother "would never tell" why he had the firearms but made "jokes" about using them to attack people at his school.

Mr Ntsele denied eight counts of making an explosive substance with intent to endanger life and eight counts of making an explosive substance.

He also denied five counts of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, but admitted five counts of possessing a firearm without a certificate and one count of possessing ammunition without a certificate.

His brother Sandhile previously told jurors that police were called to the defendant's home in October after they got into a row when Mr Ntsele referred to Sandhile's pyjama bottoms as "gay".

At one point during the argument, Mr Ntsele allegedly told his brother that he would "shoot" him.

Sandhile suffered injuries to his hands during the disagreement, which had allegedly been caused "by his brother's homemade sword".

'Blow up the school'

When asked about the makeshift guns by prosecution barrister Duncan Atkinson KC, Sandhile said his brother told him he had "tested" them - but he himself was "sceptical".

He added: "I didn't have any proof they were ever used.

"He never explained why he made them, other than wanting to own a gun. But he often joked and even made threats about attacking his school or other pupils."

The court heard he had told police his brother had said he was "making the guns to prepare for his plan", but when pressed in court, Sandhile said he could not remember any specific instances when his brother would joke about using the guns.

The defendant, who reportedly expressed admiration for dictators such as Stalin and Hitler, previously admitted possessing ammunition without a firearm certificate.

Jurors heard that in 2022 a safeguarding report stated the defendant had said there would be "no peace" at his school, adding: "I'm going to blow up the school" with an explosive device.

The trial continues.