Three men who plotted a violent terror attack on religious communities in the UK have been sentenced to lengthy prison terms, following a dramatic trial that exposed the chilling depths of their Nazi-inspired ideology and their arsenal of deadly weapons. The trio—Christopher Ringrose, 34, from Staffordshire; Marco Pitzettu, 25, from Derbyshire; and Brogan Stewart, 25, from West Yorkshire—were convicted in May 2025 of planning terrorist attacks on mosques and synagogues. Sentencing took place at Sheffield Crown Court on Friday, October 17, 2025, with Stewart receiving 11 years, Ringrose 10 years, and Pitzettu 8 years behind bars.
According to BBC News, the men were members of an online group called Einsatz 14, which was formed in January 2024. This group, described by prosecutors as a self-styled armed military organization, became a breeding ground for extreme right-wing views, racist rhetoric, and the glorification of mass murderers. The court heard that the group was actively preparing to attack an Islamic education centre on Mexborough Road in Leeds, and had amassed a cache of more than 200 weapons—including machetes, swords, crossbows, body armour, and even an illegal stun gun. Ringrose had also 3D-printed most of the parts for a semi-automatic FGC-9 Mk II firearm, which was close to being operational.
Prosecutor Jonathan Sandiford KC told the court, as reported by Arab News, that the three men were “followers of an extreme right-wing Nazi ideology” who “styled themselves as an armed military group.” By early 2024, they were recruiting additional members, seeking to acquire more deadly weapons, and planning their first attack with the explicit intention of killing multiple victims. “I want to get my own group together because action speaks louder than words,” Stewart, the group’s self-appointed leader, told undercover police officers in an online chat.
The group’s plans were laid bare in a trove of online chats and a 374-page dossier of internet activity, which prosecutors presented to the jury. Within these pages, the men expressed hatred towards black and other non-white races, especially Muslims and immigrants, and espoused ideas of white supremacy and racial purity. Their discussions included plans to “cruise around” looking for “human targets” near the Leeds Islamic education centre, then “do whatever we do, then back … for tea and medals and a debrief.” They also considered acquiring uniforms and targeting other locations, including synagogues.
Stewart adopted the title of “Fuhrer” within the group and appointed an undercover officer, known as Blackheart, as “Obergruppenfuhrer.” New recruits were sent vetting forms, and Stewart even developed a mission statement that listed the group’s “basic duties” as targeting mosques, Islamic education centres, and similar venues. He sent Blackheart details of the Leeds centre, including a Google Maps image, and discussed possible attacks such as smashing windows or ambushing individuals. In one disturbing exchange, Stewart talked about torturing a Muslim leader using his “information extraction kit.”
The men’s preparations were not confined to online rhetoric. They had physically amassed an arsenal of weapons and military equipment, including riot shields and body armour, found at their home addresses. Stewart, Ringrose, and Pitzettu had never met in person before their arrest, but had planned to “hang out, bring ourselves closer together and just cement that brotherhood” on February 18, 2024. Just two days later, on February 20, they were arrested by counterterrorism officers who believed an attack was imminent, following the successful infiltration of their online group by undercover operatives.
Their defense in court—that their actions were mere fantasy or harmless online chatter—was firmly rejected by the jury. All three were found guilty of preparing acts of terrorism and of collecting information likely to be useful to a person preparing or committing an act of terrorism. Ringrose was also convicted of manufacturing a prohibited weapon, specifically the 3D-printed firearm.
During sentencing, Mrs Justice Cutts made clear her grave concerns about the ongoing danger posed by the men. She stated, as quoted by BBC News, that their ideology was “laid bare” in the evidence: “These pages were filled with hate towards black and other non-white races, especially Muslim people and immigrants, with ideas of white supremacy and racial purity together with a belief that there must soon be a race war.” She further noted the “glorification and admiration of the policies and actions of Hitler and the German Nazi Party, including antisemitism, and of mass killers who had targeted black or Muslim communities.”
Head of Counter Terrorism Policing North East, Detective Chief Superintendent James Dunkerley, described the group as one that “espoused vile racist views and advocated for violence, all to support their extreme right-wing mindset.” He added, “Some of their defence in court was that it was all fantasy or just part of harmless chat, however all three took real-world steps to plan and prepare for carrying out an attack on innocent citizens.” Dunkerley emphasized the seriousness of the threat, saying, “I genuinely believe had we not taken action, this group could’ve carried out a violent attack and the consequences of that attack could’ve been fatal.”
Bethan David, head of the Crown Prosecution Service’s Counter Terrorism Division, said the prosecution case included “disturbing Telegram and Facebook chats as well as acquiring military equipment such as riot shields, body armour and an arsenal of weapons found at their home addresses that were to be used in readiness for a ‘race war’.” She highlighted that “by their own admission, they were inspired by SS tactics and supremacist ideology.”
The sentencing included not only prison terms but also extended licence periods—eight years for Stewart and five years each for Ringrose and Pitzettu. Upon release, all three will be subject to a Serious Crime Prevention Order for five years and Terrorism Notification Requirements for 30 years, reflecting the ongoing threat they are perceived to pose to public safety.
This case, which spanned a nine-week trial and involved multiple police forces, has highlighted the persistent danger posed by online extremist networks and the importance of proactive counterterrorism efforts. The successful infiltration and disruption of Einsatz 14 prevented what authorities believe could have been a catastrophic attack on innocent citizens. The men’s conviction and sentencing serve as a stark reminder of the threat from domestic far-right terrorism—and the vigilance required to keep communities safe.
