Cardiff terror accused, 17, 'hates terrorists'

The boy posted a picture of Cardiff Castle online

A teenager accused of planning a terror attack in Cardiff has claimed he downloaded so-called Islamic State material to fuel his hatred of terrorists.

The 17-year-old, from Rhondda Cynon Taff, told Birmingham Crown Court he always held "an anti-terrorism view".

He is accused of planning a lone wolf style attack on the day of a Justin Bieber concert in Cardiff in June.

The boy, who cannot be named, denies a string of terror charges.

He was detained at his home on 30 June after he searched for details of security arrangements of the concert.

The jury heard police found a claw hammer, a kitchen knife and a "martyrdom letter" in his school rucksack.

The teenager, who is of a white British background, told jurors he had "never wanted to fight for IS" and downloaded the literature to "strengthen" his anger towards terrorists.

He said he used the IS flag as a profile picture on his Instagram account because he "wanted people to hate the Islamic State."

"I've always had an anti-terrorism view", he told jurors, later saying he had searched for the material out of "gruesome curiosity".

The trial continues.