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Teenager from Manchester pleads guilty to trying to buy deadly toxin Teenager from Manchester pleads guilty to trying to buy deadly toxin
(about 7 hours later)
A 16-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to attempting to buy a deadly biological toxin over the internet.A 16-year-old boy has pleaded guilty to attempting to buy a deadly biological toxin over the internet.
The teenager from Mossley, Greater Manchester - who cannot be named for legal reasons - wanted to obtain a poison called abrin, said to be 30 times more toxic than ricin. The teenager from Mossley, Greater Manchester – who cannot be named for legal reasons – wanted to obtain a poison called abrin, said to be 30 times more toxic than ricin.
He entered a guilty plea at Manchester youth court on Wednesday on the basis that he tried to purchase the toxin online to kill himself, Greater Manchester police said.He entered a guilty plea at Manchester youth court on Wednesday on the basis that he tried to purchase the toxin online to kill himself, Greater Manchester police said.
The teenager will be sentenced on 20 April for the offence, which is contrary to the Criminal Attempts Act 1981 and Section 1 of the Biological Weapons Act 1974. The teenager will be sentenced on 20 April for the offence, which is contrary to the Criminal Attempts Act 1981 and section 1 of the Biological Weapons Act 1974.
Abrin is a natural poison found in the seeds of a plant called the rosary pea or jequirity.Abrin is a natural poison found in the seeds of a plant called the rosary pea or jequirity.
An investigation was launched by the north-west counter-terrorism unit on 23 January after information was passed that law enforcement officers were covertly in internet communication with the 16-year-old over the web and that he had expressed an interest in acquiring the poison. An investigation was launched by the north-west counter-terrorism unit on 23 January after it was informed that law enforcement officers were covertly communicating with the 16-year-old over the web and that he had expressed an interest in acquiring the poison.
During these communications, the teenager showed awareness of the drug’s toxicity and the potential for it to be used to cause considerable harm, said police.During these communications, the teenager showed awareness of the drug’s toxicity and the potential for it to be used to cause considerable harm, said police.
On 6 February, the youth attempted to place an order and also suggested he would make future purchases in larger quantities.On 6 February, the youth attempted to place an order and also suggested he would make future purchases in larger quantities.
Ten days later, warrants were executed at two addresses in the Mossley area of Greater Manchester and the college student was arrested. A 16-year-old girl was also arrested as part of the investigation but later released without charge.Ten days later, warrants were executed at two addresses in the Mossley area of Greater Manchester and the college student was arrested. A 16-year-old girl was also arrested as part of the investigation but later released without charge.
At a previous court hearing, it was said the youngster tried to obtain 10mg of abrin when just 0.05mg was enough to kill a human.At a previous court hearing, it was said the youngster tried to obtain 10mg of abrin when just 0.05mg was enough to kill a human.
The boy’s father wiped tears from his eyes and his mother held a handkerchief to her mouth throughout.The boy’s father wiped tears from his eyes and his mother held a handkerchief to her mouth throughout.
The maximum sentence for the offence is life imprisonment.The maximum sentence for the offence is life imprisonment.