Boy, 14, 'plotted to carry out twin mosque attacks next month before being foiled by police', court told

By RYAN HOOPER, CRIME CORRESPONDENT Published: 12:30, 16 July 2026 | Updated: 12:31, 16 July 2026 A 14-year-old boy allegedly inspired by Adolf Hitler planned to stab worshippers at two mosques next month, a court heard. The schoolboy is said to have wanted to carry out the atrocities under the pretence of converting to Islam. He was only stopped when police investigating him for alleged racially aggravated criminal damage to a vehicle discovered material in his bedroom suggesting he held extreme right-wing beliefs. The boy, who cannot be identified because of his age, allegedly created a manifesto in which he supposedly referred to being inspired by Hitler as well as other right-wing mass-killers, Christchurch mosque terrorist Brenton Tarrant and Norwegian neo-Nazi Anders Breivik. He is said to have planned to attack two mosques in Sutton, south London, on August 28. The boy pleaded not guilty to planning a terrorist attack, and to one count of racially aggravated criminal damage, when he appeared before Westminster Magistrates' Court, sitting as a youth court, this morning. The court heard the boy was initially arrested on July 9 on suspicion of racially aggravated criminal damage after a car window had been smashed with a brick. Police seized the boy's mobile phone, laptop and two notepads which then gave rise to concerns he was in the throes of planning a terrorist attack in Sutton, the court heard. The youth appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court today Briefly opening the case, prosecutor Adam Harbinson said his manifesto 'clearly' showed he was 'motivated by an extreme right-wing ideology'. The court heard the car damage was a 'trial run' for a larger campaign of tyre-slashing and targeted attacks on vehicles called 'Operation Terrorise Sutton'. The prosecutor said there was evidence the youth's views were 'entrenched' rather than mere general curiosity or role play. Wearing a grey tracksuit, and flanked by four security guards, the boy spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth, enter his pleas, and to confirm that he had understood what had happened during the 20-minute hearing. Chief magistrate Paul Goldspring remanded the youth into custody. He will next appear in court at the Old Bailey on August 21 - a week before his alleged plot was due to take place. In a statement yesterday, Commander Helen Flanagan, head of Counter Terrorism Policing (CTP) London, said: 'This is a very serious terrorism charge against a young boy and likely to be highly concerning to the public and the local community. 'We know this will be particularly concerning to the Muslim community and we are working closely with the venues affected to ensure they are kept updated and to provide advice, support and reassurance, and this will continue.' Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.