By Sammy Jones-
Three neo-Nazis who actively plotted devastating terrorist attacks on mosques and synagogues have been jailed for a combined total of 29 years. Brogan Stewart received an 11-year sentence, Marco Pitzettu was jailed for eight years, and Christopher Ringrose received a 10-year sentence at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday.
(L-R) Brogan Stewart, Christopher Ringrose and Marco Pitzettu. Pics: Counter Terrorism Policing North East
Police found the dangerous trio, aged between 25 and 34, had stockpiled body armour and a formidable arsenal of over 200 weapons. This cache included lethal tools such as crossbows, swords, machetes, axes, and numerous hunting knives, demonstrating a clear intent to inflict mass harm.
AD: Capeesh Restaurant
Stewart’s crossbow. Pic: PA/Counter Terrorism Policing North East
A tomahawk axe found at Stewart’s house. Pic: Counter Terrorism Policing North East
A Nazi flag in Brogan Stewart’s bedroom. Pic: PA/Counter Terrorism Policing North East
Ringrose’s 3D printer. Pic: Counter Terrorism Policing North East
A machete found at Ringrose’s house. Pic: Counter Terrorism Policing North East
Prosecutors told the court how the men had also acquired components for an almost-complete 3D-printed assault rifle, identified as an FGC-9 Mk II. The only missing pieces were the barrel and the firing pin, which the men were actively sourcing to complete the weapon.
According to the prosecution, the fully assembled rifle could then “have been used to devastating consequences.” The group’s extreme ideology and detailed planning revealed a terrifying Neo-Nazi terror plot that was designed to target and kill members of the Jewish and Muslim communities.
Initially, the court heard the three men shared an interest in bushcraft and online videos featuring “preppers,” individuals who stockpile supplies in anticipation of a world-changing disaster. Prosecutors demonstrated, however, that they quickly abandoned survivalism for a more sinister purpose: preparing for a race war.
AD: Oysterian Sea Food Restaurant And Bar
They used these online communities to recruit an inner circle of like-minded individuals, progressing to neo-Nazi chat groups before establishing their own private encrypted channel called Einsatz 14 in January 2024. They then began preparing to take violent action.
An undercover officer successfully infiltrated the Telegram chat group on 5 January 2024, providing crucial evidence of the developing Neo-Nazi terror plot. Brogan Stewart, the self-appointed leader from Wakefield, messaged the officer, expressing disillusionment with other far-right groups that merely “sit around and talk.”
He stated clearly, “I want to get my own group together because action speaks louder than words.” Stewart appointed Ringrose, from Cannock, and Pitzettu, from Mickleover, as “armourers,” tasking them with managing the vast collection of weapons. They also discussed getting a uniform and identifying specific potential targets, confirming mosques and synagogues were high on their list. The successful infiltration allowed authorities to prevent the group from meeting in person and advancing their plans further.
The three men planned a group call on 5 February 2024 where they discussed their operational plan to “cruise around” looking for “human targets” near an Islamic education centre. They discussed a chilling scenario: “do whatever we do, then back at mine for tea and medals and a debrief.”
Stewart wanted the members, whom had never met in person, to “hang out, bring ourselves closer together and just cement that brotherhood” on 18 February before the “operation” went ahead. Counter-terrorism police arrested the group on 20 February 2024, raiding properties in Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Staffordshire before the event could take place.
All three men were found guilty in May of preparing acts of terrorism and possessing information useful for terrorism. The jury dismissed defence arguments suggesting the defendants were merely fantasists with no real intention of carrying out their threats. Ringrose was also convicted of manufacturing the lower receiver for a 3D firearm, a prohibited weapon, and Pitzettu pleaded guilty to possessing a stun gun.
Body armour and handcuffs found at Stewart’s house. Pic: Counter Terrorism Policing North East
An image Stewart captured of himself. Pic: Counter Terrorism Policing North East
During sentencing, Judge Mrs Justice Cutts firmly stated that she believed all three men continued to believe in their extreme right-wing ideology. She noted the group’s ideology was “laid bare” in a 374-page dossier of internet activity presented to jurors, filled with hate towards black and other non-white races.
This document also featured the glorification of Hitler and Nazi policies, including antisemitism, and admiration for mass killers who had previously targeted black or Muslim communities. Although the judge did not believe an attack was “imminent,” she concluded it was “likely in the not too distant future,” confirming the seriousness of this Neo-Nazi terror plot.
Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley, head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, emphasized that the group came together purely because of their “extreme racist views.” He stated they idolized the Nazi party, glorified mass murders, and shared a deep hatred for the Jewish and Muslim communities. “I genuinely believe had we not taken action, this group could’ve carried out a violent attack and the consequences of that attack could’ve been fatal,” Dunkerley concluded.
AD: Heritage And Restaurant Lounge Bar
