Pistol found at Liverpool home of terror accused, court hears

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Manchester Crown CourtImage source, Google
Image caption,

Manchester Crown Court was shown a picture of a small pipe, described in court as a 'prison pistol'

A home-made pistol found at the home of a teenager accused of terrorism offences was capable of causing serious injury, a jury has heard.

Jacob Graham, 19, of Outer Forum in Norris Green, Liverpool, denied terrorism offences when he appeared at Manchester Crown Court.

A jury was shown a photo of a small pipe, described as a "prison pistol", which was found at the teenager's home.

It had a "flash hole" for igniting propellant, the jury heard.

'Crude home-made firearm'

Mr Graham denies two counts of preparing for terrorist acts, four counts of possessing information for terrorist purposes and two charges of disseminating a terrorist publication between May 2022 and May 2023.

A firearms expert, Andre Horne, described the pistol as a "crude home-made firearm".

He said: "It most certainly would have been capable of causing serious injury if discharged at the face."

But he said he could not say if it could kill someone without testing it.

'Unsatisfactory life'

The jury also saw a video recorded by Mr Graham on his computer showing him accessing files of instructions on how to build a 9mm carbine with a 3D printer.

Mr Horne said that guns made using this method "would not be as reliable or durable as conventional weapons, but could do what they're supposed to do".

He added a 9mm carbine is a shoulder-mounted gun which uses the same calibre of bullets as those used by the military and the police.

He said they were capable of causing serious injury and death.

The jury have seen a photograph of a 3D printer found at Mr Graham's home.

The court has heard that Mr Graham allegedly wanted to launch a bombing and shooting campaign intending to kill or injure at least 50 people.

The prosecution claim that he blamed the government for his "unsatisfactory life" and he held a grievance against Hugh Baird College in Bootle where he was a student.

The trial continues on Wednesday.

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