Far-right cell members jailed for terror offences

Members of a far-right cell who made gun parts on a 3D printer and celebrated mass shootings have been jailed for terror offences.

Liam Hall, Stacey Salmon, Daniel Wright and Samuel Whibley were jailed for 31 years in total. In March, after a two-month trial, the four were convicted of 18 offences. Wright was found guilty of seven offences, including manufacturing a firearm, and was jailed for 12 years. Hall was found guilty of manufacturing and possessing a firearm, and was jailed for six years. Salmon was jailed for three years for possessing a firearm. Whibley was jailed for 10 years for eight terrorism offences, including the encouragement of terrorism and the dissemination of a terrorist publication.

During the trial, jurors were told that a partially constructed 3D-printed gun was found at Hall and Salmon’s home. Despite being incomplete, firearms experts said that if fully assembled, the weapon could have proved lethal. Practical guides for making explosives, chemicals and other weapons were also recovered.

The group, which was infiltrated by an undercover police officer, used Telegram to share terror manuals and racist ideology. They also shared videos of terror attacks, including the Christchurch attack in March 2019. Prosecutors also said the group had "celebrated racist violence and killing".

Prosecutor Annabel Darlow QC said the defendants were members of an "extreme fascist" cell during the first four months of 2021. Temporary Detective Chief Superintendent Peter Craig, head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, said the unit had worked tirelessly to identify those who had "an extremist mindset and threaten the safety and unity of our diverse communities".

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