BNP candidate who feared civil war ‘had hoarded explosives’

A former election candidate for the British National Party built a stockpile of explosive chemicals in preparation for a future civil war, a court was told yesterday.

Robert Cottage, a self-proclaimed Christian, “held strong views on immigration” and had become convinced that a forthcoming war would lead to the creation of a new world order. The 49-year-old BNP member, who also spoke of wanting to assassinate the Prime Minister, is said to have stored the chemicals alongside weapons and ammunition at his home in Colne, Lancashire.

A jury at Manchester Crown Court was told that 21 chemical products – capable of forming explosives when mixed together – were found when the property was raided by police. Officers also found a computer document, called The Anarchy Cookbook, which gave details on how to produce different types of bombs.

Mr Cottage told friends he would like to shoot Mr Blair and local Liberal Democrat peer Lord Greaves. A diary entry read: “Thought for the day: The easiest way to save the country is to assassinate Tony Blair and when Prescott takes over, shoot that f***** as well.”

Louise Blackwell, QC, for the prosecution, said that Mr Cottage’s behaviour first aroused suspicion when his wife, Kerena, told social workers that he had crossbows and chemicals at their home. The couple had been married for two years but Mrs Cottage, who has mental health problems, told police that she had become increasingly unhappy about his political beliefs. She told officers: “I have seen a change in Rob since he became involved with the BNP four years ago. Rob was becoming very radical in his views and opinions.” The far-Right party had “driven a wedge” between them, she said, leading to a trial separation. She told officers: “Rob believes there will be a civil war and the emergence of a new world order. Rob has also started stockpiling supplies.”

The court was told that Mr Cottage, a member of the Church of England, was “a very religious man” who would “regularly quote from the Bible and read it every other day”. He also listened to radio programmes on an American website called Republican Broadcasts, which specialised in conspiracy theories.

Miss Blackwell said that during the raid on the Cottages’ home, police found – in addition to chemicals – four air pistols, crossbows with ammunition and ball bearings which could have been used as shrapnel in an explosive device.

After Mr Cottage was interviewed, detectives raided the home of a second man, David Jackson, where they found a bow and arrow and two nuclear protection suits. Mr Jackson, 62, a dentist from Nelson, Lancashire, is said to have first met Mr Cottage at BNP meetings. Miss Blackwell said: “These two men together agreed to order these chemicals . . . and they intended to make a bomb with them. That much the Crown say is clear, due to the information found on the computer. The bomb they intended to make would have had the ability to cause damage or cause serious injuries.”

Both men deny a charge of conspiracy to cause an explosion and Mr Jackson denies a further count of possessing explosives. Mr Cottage pleaded guilty to possessing explosives.

His barrister, Alistair Webster, QC, told the jury that his client was a former BNP candidate who had been the subject of threats. Mr Cottage, he said, believed that the “political and financial condition of the country” would lead to civil war. Mr Webster said that Mr Cottage accepted the possession charge on the basis that the explosives were designed to deter attacks on his property. He added that this premise was not accepted by the prosecution.

TimesOnline