Talbot Street bomb-making haul

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On 28 September 2006 two men were arrested in the north of England and charged under the Explosive Substances Act 1883 for the possession of rocket launchers and a large haul of explosives-making chemicals. The case went virtually unreported in the national press until the trial, in stark contrast to similar situations where those arrested were suspected radical Islamists.

The trial began on 12 February 2007. One man plead guilty of possession of explosives in order to deter attacks on his property in the anticipation of a civil war, the other denies all charges.

Contents

[edit] Arrests

On 28 September 2006, Robert Cottage, a former candidate for the BNP, was arrested at his home in Talbot Street, Colne.[1] The police claimed to have recovered chemical components which could be used to make explosives. They believe it is the largest haul ever discovered in someone's home in England.[2] He was charged under the Explosive Substances Act 1883 on 2 October.

The police operation had been sparked off when Robert Cottage's wife told a social worker that her husband had several crossbows and chemicals stored in his home.[3]

Police Superintendent Neil Smith said: "He's not a terrorist and it's not a bomb factory but we are interested in what we have seized from his house. It will take expert advice to establish exactly what he has got. He was arrested under the Explosive Substances Act 1883 on suspicion of possessing chemical substances that aren't in themselves an offense to possess but if combined may be capable of making an explosion."[4]

On 29 September 2006, David Bolus Jackson, a retired dentist, was arrested in Grange-over-Sands and also charged under the Explosive Substances Act 1883 on 2 October. His house in Trent Road, Nelson, Lancashire was also searched, and the prosecutor in the case reported that rocket launchers, chemicals, BNP literature and a nuclear biological suit were uncovered. The prosecutor also alleged that the pair had "some kind of master plan".[1]

Both men were remanded in custody and were due to appear at Burnley Crown Court on 23 October,[1] but actually appeared in Preston Crown Court a day later[5] where the trial was adjourned until 15 January 2007 (see Discussion page), with a trial date set for 12 February in the Manchester Crown Court.[6]

No charges have been brought under any of the Terrorism Acts.

[edit] Criticism of media coverage of arrests

There was no coverage of the arrests on the BBC, and very little in the national papers, beyond a paragraph in "Newsbriefs" in The Sunday Times,[7] as well as socialist newspaper The Morning Star.[8]

It has been suggested that had those arrested been suspected Islamic extremists, rather than white extremists, the arrests would have been front page news immediately.[9][10]

The trial itself received much more coverage in the mainstream media.

[edit] The trial

The trial began in Manchester Crown Court on 13 February 2007.

Robert Cottage pleaded guilty to possession of explosives but denied conspiracy to cause an explosion, claiming that he needed the materials to deter attacks on his property because he believed that the political and financial condition of the UK would deteriorate into civil war within a few years.[11]

The prosecution cited statements from his wife that he wanted to shoot Tony Blair and local Liberal Democrat peer Lord Greaves, and held strong views on immigration.[3] He was also alleged to possess a copy on his computer of the Anarchist Cookbook, which includes bomb-making information, as well as crossbows and four air-rifles. His wife told the court that "I have seen a change in Rob since he became involved with the BNP four years ago." "The BNP made mine and Rob's marriage suffer. It drove a wedge between us."

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c "Chemicals Find: Two In Court", pendletoday.co.uk, 6 October 2006. Retrieved on 2006-10-12.
  2. ^ Hewitt, Andrew. "Ex-BNP man faces explosives charge", The Citizen, 4 October 2006. Retrieved on 2006-10-12.
  3. ^ a b Emma Henry. "Ex-BNP candidate admits stockpiling weapons", The Telegraph, 13 February 2007. Retrieved on 2007-02-13.
  4. ^ Bradshaw, Charlotte. "Ex-BNP man held in 'bomb' swoop", Lancashire Telegraph, 2 October 2006. Retrieved on 2006-10-12.
  5. ^ "Explosives court case", North West Evening Mail, 24 October 2006. Retrieved on 2006-10-24.
  6. ^ "BNP man faces explosives charge", ITV, 24 October 2006. Retrieved on 2006-10-24.
  7. ^ "BNP link to explosives charges", The Sunday Times, 8 October 2006. Retrieved on 2006-10-12.
  8. ^ "Jon Henley's Diary", The Guardian, 20 October 2006. Retrieved on 2006-10-20.
  9. ^ Charlie Kimber (2006-10-07). A terror raid that doesn't make the headlines - despite chemical explosives and a rocket launcher.
  10. ^ "Jon Henley's Diary", The Guardian, 13 October 2006. Retrieved on 2006-10-13.
  11. ^ "Former BNP candidate wanted to shoot Blair court hears", The Guardian, 13 February 2007. Retrieved on 2007-02-13.
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