Teen accused of terror plot 'never intended' harm
BBCA teenage boy accused of plotting a terror attack on local synagogues has told a jury he "never intended to harm anyone".
The 16-year-old, who cannot be identified, told Leeds Crown Court he wrote violent messages in his journal and in online chats after being bullied.
Jurors were previously told police found an "arsenal" of weapons, including a crossbow, knives and a gas-powered air pistol when anti-terror officers raided his home in Northumberland.
The boy said he developed an online character with an interest in racist and offensive content because he was trying to escape from the real world and wanted people to talk to, but it did not reflect his true beliefs.
The boy was asked by his barrister Frida Hussain KC: "Writing in these terms about harming other people, was this anything you wanted to do in reality?"
The defendant replied: "Just thoughts in my head. I never intended to harm anyone."
He said between the ages of 10 and 12 he was using a number of different social media platforms, telling the jury: "I spent more time online the more I was bullied.
"It meant I could escape from real life, not have to think about anything in real life."
When asked if the "racist stuff" he was interacting with online bothered him, the boy said it had at first but then "I just started to ignore it" because he felt he had someone to speak to to get away from his suicidal thoughts.
The teenager denies preparing acts of terrorism, being a member of a proscribed organisation - a neo-Nazi group called The Base - as well as possessing terror documents and publishing terror publications.
The trial continues.
