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Michael Piggin terror retrial: Jury fails to reach verdict | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The jury in the retrial of a teenager accused of plotting terrorist attacks in his Leicestershire home town has again failed to reach a verdict. | |
Michael Piggin, from Loughborough, was accused of two counts of terrorism which included plans to attack his former school, a mosque and a cinema. | Michael Piggin, from Loughborough, was accused of two counts of terrorism which included plans to attack his former school, a mosque and a cinema. |
The 18-year-old had previously pleaded guilty to possessing explosives. | The 18-year-old had previously pleaded guilty to possessing explosives. |
The prosecution confirmed there would be no retrial after the jury failed to reach a verdict after 11 days. | The prosecution confirmed there would be no retrial after the jury failed to reach a verdict after 11 days. |
'For entertainment' | |
During the trial at the Old Bailey prosecuting lawyer Max Hill QC said Piggin had plotted a "Columbine-style massacre" in the Leicestershire town. | During the trial at the Old Bailey prosecuting lawyer Max Hill QC said Piggin had plotted a "Columbine-style massacre" in the Leicestershire town. |
He showed weapons found in his bedroom and videos of the teenager making Neo-Nazi salutes and shouting 'EDL' outside a mosque. | He showed weapons found in his bedroom and videos of the teenager making Neo-Nazi salutes and shouting 'EDL' outside a mosque. |
Following a raid at his home in Beaumont Road, Shelthorpe, police found several air rifles, component parts of pipe bombs, a crossbow and a swastika flag hung above his bed. | Following a raid at his home in Beaumont Road, Shelthorpe, police found several air rifles, component parts of pipe bombs, a crossbow and a swastika flag hung above his bed. |
Piggin, who was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome after his arrest in February last year, said he wrote about attacks to cope with bullying and tested explosives "for entertainment". | Piggin, who was diagnosed with Asperger's syndrome after his arrest in February last year, said he wrote about attacks to cope with bullying and tested explosives "for entertainment". |
Videos shown during the case showed him throwing petrol bombs behind a leisure centre and writing racist graffiti on a wall. | Videos shown during the case showed him throwing petrol bombs behind a leisure centre and writing racist graffiti on a wall. |
The teenager denied possessing articles for a purpose connected with terrorism and having a Mujahideen Poisons Handbook, which is banned under terrorism laws. | The teenager denied possessing articles for a purpose connected with terrorism and having a Mujahideen Poisons Handbook, which is banned under terrorism laws. |
Throughout the trial Piggin denied any real plans for attacks and said it had all "just been in his head". | Throughout the trial Piggin denied any real plans for attacks and said it had all "just been in his head". |
He said he "didn't have a problem with Muslims in general" and described racist comments made on videos as "banter". | He said he "didn't have a problem with Muslims in general" and described racist comments made on videos as "banter". |
'Loss of life' | |
On Friday the judge dismissed the jury after they said there was "no real prospect of them ever reaching a verdict that they agreed on". | On Friday the judge dismissed the jury after they said there was "no real prospect of them ever reaching a verdict that they agreed on". |
This latest trial was a retrial after a previous jury failed to reach a verdict in November. | |
Det Chief Insp Will Catterton, from the counter terrorism unit, said: "We obviously treated this very seriously indeed. | |
"Anything of this type where a person is putting together items such as improvised explosive devices, one has to assume that they can prove fatal if handled incorrectly or if someone has a particular mindset to use them, it can result in a loss of life." | |
Piggin will be sentenced for three counts of possessing explosives and one of carrying a knife in the street on 13 June. | Piggin will be sentenced for three counts of possessing explosives and one of carrying a knife in the street on 13 June. |