Man charged over murder and terror offences remanded in custody

A man appeared in court today charged with soliciting murder and terror offences, police said.

Trevor Hannington, from Hirwaun, South Wales, appeared at City of Westminster Magistrates’ Court accused of possessing records containing information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, contrary to Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000, and disseminating a terrorist publication, contrary to Section 2 of the Terrorism Act 2006.

The 58-year-old is also accused of using threatening, abusive or insulting words likely to stir up racial hatred. Hannington was remanded in custody until January 15 2010 when he will appear at the Old Bailey, a statement from the North East Counter Terrorism Unit said.

Michael Heaton, 42, from Leigh, Greater Manchester, also appeared at the magistrates’ court charged with soliciting murder and using threatening, abusive or insulting words likely to stir up racial hatred. He was bailed until January 15 when he will also appear at the Old Bailey, police said.

In an earlier statement, North East Counter Terrorism Unit and South Wales Police said the investigation was not linked to international terrorism. He added: “We recognise that local people may have concerns as a result of this enquiry and our officers are in regular contact with the local community to keep them as informed as possible about the investigation. We would like to thank local residents for their patience, support and understanding.”

Wales Online

Man due in court on terror charges

'Wigan Mike' Heaton - even butcher than Dewhursts

A man was appearing in court today charged with soliciting murder and terror offences

Trevor Hannington, 58, from Hirwaun, South Wales, is also accused of using threatening, abusive or insulting words likely to stir up racial hatred. He also faces charges of possession of records containing information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, contrary to Section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000, and disseminating a terrorist publication, contrary to Section 2 of the Terrorism Act 2006.

Michael Heaton, 42, from Leigh, Greater Manchester, is also charged with soliciting murder and using threatening, abusive or insulting words likely to stir up racial hatred.

North East Counter Terrorism Unit and South Wales Police said the investigation was not linked to international terrorism. A spokesman said: “We recognise that local people may have concerns as a result of this inquiry and our officers are in regular contact with the local community to keep them as informed as possible about the investigation. We would like to thank local residents for their patience, support and understanding.”

Both men will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court at 2pm.

Wales Online

Kirklees British National Party member admits to terrorism charges

The Bomb Disposal Team move into Terry Gavan's house

A member of the British National Party is facing a long spell in prison after admitting to keeping an arsenal of homemade weapons at his home.

Terence Gavan, 38, made and stockpiled 54 nail and ball-bearing bombs between May 1999 and May this year. He also manufactured shotguns, pen guns and pistols at his home in Batley, West Yorkshire. Gavan was also found in possession of ammunition, a manual on boobytraps, an improvised munitions handbook and a copy of the Anarchists’ Cookbook.

He admitted 22 charges, including six under the Terrorism Act, when he appeared at Woolwich Crown Court on 26 November 2009.

The Judge, Mr Justice Calvert-Smith QC, adjourned sentence until 15 January and remanded Gavan in custody.

Gavan was arrested at his home in Colbeck Terrace on 21 May following a West Yorkshire police operation. He admitted four counts of making explosives and four counts of possessing explosives over a ten-year period. They consisted of four improvised explosive devices (IEDs) incorporating ball-bearings, 21 IEDs with nails, two “victim-operated” IEDs with nails and a further 28 explosives classified as IEDs.

He also pleaded guilty three counts of manufacturing prohibited weapons, four counts of possession of prohibited weapons and one count of possession of ammunition without a certificate. In all, police found nine homemade or converted firearms at the property.

These were a .22 ME9 para air-cartridge pistol, an 8mm blank-cartridge, pistol, a home-made .22 rimfire single shotgun, two homemade .22 rimfire pen gun, a .22 single shot pistol. There were also two homemade pistols and one homemade shotgun, fitted with silencers or sound moderators.

Between 31 December 2005 and 22 February this year Gavan reactivated a British Service No 4 Mark I rifle. Also found in his home were two Brocock revolver gas guns. Gavan further admitted six charges of possession of documents containing information likely to be useful to a person committing or preparing an act of terrorism, under section 58 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

These were books with the titles Boobytraps, Improvised Weapons Manual and Guerilla Warfare and Special Forces Operations 1961, and two electronic PDF files including the Anarchists’ Cookbook volume 4.

No doubt the BNP will say Gavan was not and never has been a BNP member. However Searchlight has been monitoring this case for some time and we can reveal that Gavan not only was a BNP member, he also held gold membership. Just to help the BNP administration team find details of their latest villain, we are reliably informed Terry Gavan has the membership number 130757.

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