Teen Convicted for Membership in Banned Neo-Nazi Group The Base

A 16-year-old from Northumberland was convicted of membership in the banned neo-Nazi group The Base and possession of terror materials. Police found weapons and extremist paraphernalia during a raid. The boy will be sentenced on 27 March.

Teen Found Guilty of Membership in Banned Neo-Nazi Group

A 16-year-old boy from Northumberland has been found guilty of being a member of the banned neo-Nazi paramilitary organisation known as The Base.

A jury at Leeds Crown Court unanimously convicted him of membership of The Base, as well as possessing and sharing terror publications. However, the jury was unable to reach a verdict on the most serious charge against him—that he was preparing acts of terrorism. The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed it would not pursue a retrial on this charge.

The boy, who cannot be named due to his age, is scheduled to be sentenced on 27 March.

Police Raid and Evidence Found

Counter-terrorism police raided the teenager's home in February last year and reported discovering an "arsenal" of weapons, including a crossbow, knives, and a gas-powered air pistol.

The jury was shown images of the boy's bedroom where police found a replica Nazi Schutzstaffel (SS)-style cap, a full-sized skeleton wearing a mask, and posters related to The Base.

Counter Terror Policing North East A view of the corner of the accused's bedroom. Military clothing is hanging on the back of the door, a poster with historical Nazi propaganda on it hangs on the wall and a large weapon and plastic skeleton wearing a mask are in the foreground. There is also a green and white flag hung sideways between the door and the skeleton. — The teenager had posters in support of the banned neo-Nazi organisation called The Base in his room

Additionally, police found an air rifle among the weapons seized during the raid.

Counter Terror Policing North East A long black air rifle is placed on light blue paper as part of a police evidence photo. There is a red paper label attached that reds: — Counter terror police found an air rifle in the teenager's home

Defence and Online Activity

The defence counsel told jurors that the boy denied ever intending to carry out any act of terrorism and urged them to consider his life experience in their deliberations.

Police stated that the teenager, who was 15 years old at the time of his arrest, was involved in extreme right-wing online chat groups on platforms including Telegram, Snapchat, TikTok, and Wire.

Official Statements and Online Radicalisation

Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley, head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, commented on the case, highlighting the risks posed by extremist content accessible online.

"This case provides a stark reminder around the dangers of extreme content online that is accessible to the public and how individuals can be drawn into serious offending."

The defendant told the court that he had created an online persona as a means of escaping reality, and that his use of online platforms and social media had escalated throughout his childhood.

The Base and Its Ideology

The jury heard that The Base, the banned group the boy joined, advocates for a race war and aims to cause societal collapse to establish a "white supremacist utopia."

Broader Context and Expert Commentary

Steven Rai, a representative from the research and advocacy group Institute for Strategic Dialogue, noted that this case is not isolated. He mentioned that other minors have been arrested for membership in The Base in countries such as Italy and the Netherlands.