A large Nazi flag can be seen hanging on the wall and the officer points out a series of knives, an air rifle and a machete. The jury was also shown police bodycam footage collected during a search of Stables’ bedroom. Stables can also be heard talking about joining the DUP to “execute gay people” and the English Defence League, while another man can be heard discussing what food he is going to order in the background. The jury was shown a video of him burning a rainbow flag while saying: “Look at it, that rainbow, so much nicer when it’s on fire. He denied he was doing a “recce” of the pub he planned to attack when he was arrested and said he was walking to sit outside the jobcentre to use its free public wifi.Īfter he was arrested, police found Stables had made internet searches for “how to make chemical poison”, “what is prison like for a murderer”, “I want to go on a killing spree” and “do you get haircuts in prison”. Officers had received a tip-off from a member of a far-right Facebook group where Stables posted a message saying he was “going to war” and that he planned to “slaughter every single one of the gay bastards”.
He was unarmed when he was arrested, but police later found an axe and a machete at his home. He had told the court he was ashamed of racist and homophobic comments he made online and claimed he was himself bisexual.Īrmed police swooped on Stables on 23 June as he walked towards the New Empire pub in Barrow, Cumbria, which was hosting a gay pride event. Stables, who has an autistic spectrum disorder, was convicted of preparing an act of terrorism, making threats to kill and possessing explosives.