Man accused of terrorism plot claims he was lonely

A man accused of buying a gun for a terror attack told jurors he was “lonely and isolated” when viewing extreme right-wing material in his bedroom.

Alfie Coleman was arrested in an MI5 sting moments after sourcing a Makarov pistol and 188 rounds of ammunition in September 2023.

He was a white supremacist who “idolised Hitler” and dreamed of “sparking a race war”, prosecutors at the Old Bailey have alleged.

The 21-year-old, of Tailors Close in Great Notley, Essex, admits possessing a firearm, ammunition and 10 offences of having a document useful to terrorism, but denies preparing an attack.

He was aged 19 when counter terrorism police arrested him at a Morrisons car park in Stratford, east London.

Mr Coleman’s barrister, Tana Adkin KC, asked him on Wednesday: “Did you ever intend to commit an act of terrorism?”

Read more: BBC News