Liverpool man, 19, planned terror attack from bedroom, court hears

Jacob Graham previously pleaded not guilty to all the charges against him

A college student inspired by a US terrorist made terror attack plans from his bedroom intending to kill or injure at least 50 people, a court heard.

Jacob Graham wrote a "manifesto" and about his hatred for society.

He claimed he wanted to finish what Theodore Kaczynski, the "Unabomber", had started, the court was told.

The 19-year-old denies two counts of the preparation of terrorist acts and four counts of possession of information for terrorist purposes.

Mr Graham, of Norris Green, Liverpool, has also pleaded not guilty to two of dissemination of a terrorist publication between May 2022 and May 2023.

Annabel Darlow KC, opening the case for the prosecution, told the jury at Manchester Crown Court that Mr Graham was motivated by a hatred and contempt for the government, whom he perceived as tyrannical and oppressive of those he termed "working-class" people.

She said: "Mr Graham expressed the aim of killing and injuring at least 50 people and said that any more than this number would be 'a blessing'."

'Online arsenal'

From May 2022, the defendant began work on a document setting out his plans to prepare for a bombing campaign and would end his violence by carrying out a shooting.

After he was arrested on 26 May 2023 at the home he shared with his mother, sister and sister's boyfriend, police found a number of chemicals, each of which could be used as ingredients in various explosive mixtures, jurors heard.

Also found was a 3D printer, which had the potential to be used to print parts of home-made firearms, including the carbine, FGC-9 MKII.

Police also found an "online arsenal" of information on his computer devices, containing information on the manufacture of deadly weapons and explosives, many of which could be made at home, with basic skills, using materials or ingredients that could be got hold of relatively easily.

'Not finalised plans'

Mr Graham, a student at Hugh Baird College in Bootle, had purchased chemicals and other equipment, including fuse wire, and carried out numerous experiments on low explosive devices, some of which he filmed.

Six weeks before his arrest he had packaged chemicals up and gone to woods in Formby, on the coast on Merseyside, and buried them in a secret hide.

Mr Graham, using the name "Destro" or "Destro the Destroyer" was also communicating with like-minded others, on social media, sending numerous manuals and electronic books, giving instructions on weapons, explosives and poisons, it is alleged.

Jurors were shown some of the lengthy 105 home videos that Mr Graham recorded himself in his bedroom.

In one, Mr Graham mentions the 7/7 bombings, Afghanistan, the Manchester Arena attack and talks about his own plans, adding, "If people want to call me a justice warrior or a hero - call me that."

Ms Darlow said the defendant was not charged with committing an act of terrorism and it was not the prosecution's case that before his arrest he was about to commit such an act, or even that he was ready to do so.

And though he had talked about bombing his home city of Liverpool, he had not finalised plans or selected a target, she said.

But Ms Darlow said Mr Graham was preparing to act, or assist others to commit acts of terrorism.

The trial, expected to last up to six weeks, continues.