Teenage terror suspect told police being arrested was 'cool'

A teenager charged with terror offences told police that being arrested was "cool" and he would show off about it "forever", a court has heard.

The 16-year-old boy is accused of accessing bomb-making instructions on the internet and making a potential bomb filled with shrapnel, but denies intending to harm anyone.

The trial at Leeds Crown Court heard that he told fellow pupils at his school that he was going to "go on a rampage" and "kill many people".The jury was told that the teenager also told students he was going to carry out a school shooting and had praised Adolf Hitler.

Paul Greaney QC, prosecuting, read out statements from the boy's interview with the police following his arrest in August last year.

The court heard he said he would be able to show off to his friends about being arrested "forever".

Mr Greaney said he told police: "When I have kids I'll probably still talk about this."

He described being in the cells as "wicked" and said the situation was "cool and funny", the court was told.

But the jury heard he told police it "wouldn't be a joke any more" if he was charged with offences.

The trial has heard that the boy developed an interest in extremist far right ideology and accessed videos and information about murder, torture and mutilation on the internet.

When asked about the violent material, the court heard he told police: "I find that stuff cool like any teenager would."

The teenager said he was bullied at school and would say and do "stupid stuff", the court was told.

Mr Greaney said the boy told police he talked about bombs because: "Bombs sound cool and will make me sound cooler. It makes me stand out and I look more cool."

The barrister said the boy added:

The court has heard that a search of the teenager's home in Bradford, West Yorkshire, found a device made from two carbon dioxide canisters joined together and filled with metal tacks, which could have been a "viable CO2 bomb" with the addition of gunpowder and a fuse.

Talking about the device in the interview with police, the court heard that the boy said:

He denied planning an attack on anyone or any place.

The boy denies one count of making an explosive substance with intent, one count of making an explosive substance and three counts of possession of a document likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism.

The case was adjourned until Tuesday.