No further retrial for teenager accused of planning terrorist act

Monday 2 June 2014

Michael Piggin, the Loughborough teenager charged with planning a terrorist attack on a school or mosque has been told he will not face a third retrial after a jury at the Central Criminal Court failed to reach a verdict. Ali Naseem Bajwa QC acted for the defendant.

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The prosecution alleged that the defendant was a neo-Nazi extremist who prepared detailed plans and stockpiled weapons and explosives in order to carry out what he described as a "New Columbine".

The defence case was that the defendant was an isolated, unhappy and autistic teenager who wrote and spoke about a fantasy plan to attack people or places as an outlet for his anger and anxiety and as a way of indulging some of his autism-related interests.

After two trials at the Central Criminal Court, each ending in a hung jury, the prosecution informed the court they would not seek a further trial.

Ali Naseem Bajwa QC led Helen Johnson and was instructed by Emery Johnson Astills Solicitors.

The case has received wide media attention, with reports on the BBC and in the Guardian and the Daily Mail.

Ali Naseem Bajwa QC is a member of the Crime Team and has acted in several high-profile terrorism cases.

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