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Palaces & Buildings

Bomb plot targeting Buckingham Palace and Parliament by schoolboys foiled

Two schoolboys have this week appeared in court on trial for conspiring to commit terror acts in the United Kingdom, including bombing Buckingham Palace.

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The two schoolboys, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court where they admitted conspiracy to make an explosive substance for an unlawful purpose.

As well as bombing Buckingham Palace, the teenagers, who were 15 at the time, conspired to attack the Houses of Parliament and a local Newcastle school.

The court heard that the schoolboys already had begun collecting chemicals and fuses to make explosive devices in the days before their arrest. The boys’ plot was foiled after one of their mothers discovered the substances in his room and contacted the police.

The children had previously been caught in conversations on Skype having discussions about killing family members and, beheading people on camera.

Nick Dry, the prosecutor, told the court: “The conversation reveals that they were looking to sell drugs in order to fund the purchase of materials to make pipe bombs and a firearm.”

“Potential targets discussed included a local public school, the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace and a random shopping centre.”

“Escape plans were discussed along with potential suicide, both defendants stating that it was what they had wanted for a long time and agreeing to source the constituent parts of pipe bombs.”

“One defendant was keen that he end his own life; suicide was his priority although he was happy to go along with the other defendant’s desire to kill others with a view to being remembered.”

“Orders were placed for various chemicals with a view to making explosives.”

In December last year, after one of the boy’s mothers found the substances, he was heard singing to himself and muttering ‘no surrender’ on the way to the police station, the court heard.

One of the boys’ lawyers informed the court that the boy had been suffering from mental health issues at the time.

The pair have been sentenced to a 12-month detention and training order.

Photo Credit: Neil Howard

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