Luke Skelton, 18, allegedly carried out ‘hostile reconnaissance’ and believed he was engaged in a race war. A teenager said to have lionised Hitler and who allegedly believed he was part of a race war against “totalitarian” liberal democracy has gone on trial accused of preparing to commit a terrorist act. Luke Skelton, 18, is alleged to have carried out “hostile reconnaissance” of Forth Banks police station in Newcastle upon Tyne. Skelton denies preparing to commit acts of terrorism while a college student studying a BTec in information technology. The prosecuting barrister, Nicholas de la Poer QC, told a jury at Teesside crown court on Tuesday there was evidence that Skelton conducted internet research into three police stations in Newcastle, physically going to one where he took photographs. “These were not the snaps of a tourist marvelling at the architecture. The prosecution’s case is that there was a much more sinister purpose to what Luke Skelton was doing that day.” De la Poer said Skelton went because “he had a plan. His plan was to commit terrorist acts.”
via guardian: Teenager accused of UK terror plot took photos of police station, court told