Boy, 15, accused of synagogue attack plan in court

The 15-year-old boy, from Northumberland, appeared at the Old Bailey

A 15-year-old boy accused of planning a terrorist attack on synagogues faces a trial next year.

The youth, from Northumberland, appeared at the Old Bailey for a preliminary hearing charged with engaging in conduct in preparation for committing acts of terrorism and membership of a banned neo-Nazi group.

A provisional trial was set for 13 January at Leeds Crown Court, with a plea hearing on 18 July this year at the Old Bailey.

The defendant, who cannot be identified because of his age, was remanded back into custody.

The teenager is charged with engaging in conduct in preparation for committing acts of terrorism, contrary to Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006.

He is also charged with one count of membership of a proscribed organisation, contrary to Section 11 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

The Base, an extreme right-wing white supremacist group, was proscribed as a terrorist organisation by the Home Office in July 2021.

The teenager was arrested as part of a pre-planned, intelligence-led operation on 20 February.

At the hearing before Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb, he spoke to confirm his identity by video-link from prison.

Prosecutor Birgitte Hagem told the court the charges relate to alleged plans to attack local synagogues and a phone mast.

Additional reporting by PA Media