Defendant met American neo-Nazi who was later convicted of explosives offences in London, court hears. The co-founder of a British neo-Nazi terrorist group had links with Atomwaffen Division terrorists in the US, a court has heard. Ben Raymond, 32, is on trial accused of seven terror offences including remaining a member of National Action after it was banned in December 2016. Bristol Crown Court heard that he met a member of Atomwaffen Division, a militant American neo-Nazi organisation that has been listed as a terrorist group by the British government, in London and was in contact with others online. Mr Raymond allegedly admitted meeting up with leading figure Brandon Russell, who was later jailed for possessing high explosives, in 2014 or 2015. Jurors were shown records of messages Russell sent to a different National Action member in 2015, saying: “I have learned a TON from you guys.” (…) The defendant’s address book on Skype also contained a contact listed as “Kekman”, whose real name was Devon Arthurs. The court heard that Arthurs had been a member of Atomwaffen Division but then converted to Islam, and months later murdered two roommates who were also in the group. When asked about Atomwaffen Division by police, Mr Raymond described it as a “fun social club for people who like to do pranks in Florida”, the court heard. But the court heard the defendant had downloaded court documents detailing the explosives charges against Russell and murders committed by Arthurs. Mr Raymond also described National Action as a “silly protest group” in a police interview. Mr Jameson told the jury: “These were both armed terrorist groups, armed with rifles, crossbows, ice- picks, knives and daggers and when those are stockpiled no-one is laughing.” The jury was told that Mr Raymond was also linked to other convicted neo-Nazis such as Jack Renshaw, who is serving a life sentence for plotting to murder Labour MP Rosie Cooper in 2017.

via independent: Ben Raymond: National Action co-founder had links with Atomwaffen terrorists in US, court hears

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