Nazi obsessive who threatened to bomb mosques after Manchester attack jailed

Liam Seabrook’s ‘weapons were very basic, nevertheless of a very violent type which could have resulted in extreme injury, if not death, if put to use’, judge says

He had a previous conviction for arson, writing racist graffiti and leaving a note in a library calling for immigrants to be banned from using it (PA)

A Nazi-sympathiser who threatened to petrol bomb mosques after the Manchester Arena attack and who had an array of medieval weapons at his home has been jailed for eight years.

Hitler-obsessive Liam Seabrook, 31, told his probation officer he planned to kill Muslims in a series of text messages four days after 22 people were murdered at the Ariana Grande concert last May.

The judge at Teesside Crown Court branded him “dangerous” and imposed an extended sentence.

When police went to his home in Thornaby, Teesside, they found petrol in washing-up liquid bottles and crude home-made wooden weapons with screws and razor blades sticking out of them.

One was likened by Paul Abrahams, prosecuting, to a fasces – a weapon carried by Roman magistrates made from sticks with blades attached.

He said the weapons were adapted to cause “significant injuries” and were “medieval-style weaponry”.

Some were located close to his front door, the court heard.

When cable ties were found at Seabrook’s flat, he explained he had them “in case he needed to kidnap somebody”, Mr Abrahams said.

The chilling texts were sent in response to a routine inquiry from his probation officer.

He told her: “After Monday [the day of the Manchester bombing], Muslims and mosques need to be petrol bombed.”

She asked if he intended to carry out the threat, and Seabrook replied: “If something happens, something happens. By that time it would be [too late] to be stopped, like the Muslim attack on Manchester.”

Bizarrely, he then told her he had passed a forklift drivers’ course.

Mr Abrahams said Seabrook sent racist texts and expressed views about killing Muslims.

Psychiatrists found later he was fascinated by the Third Reich and Hitler in particular.

He had a previous conviction for arson, writing racist graffiti and leaving a note in a library calling for immigrants to be banned from using it.

Alex Bousfield, defending, said there was no suggestion Seabrook had ever taken his weapons out of his flat and that they were more like “bizarre ornaments”.

Seabrook was isolated and stockpiled goods so he would not have to leave his home, the court heard.

Mr Bousfield said: “He has really seen the outside world through media reports and he has picked and chosen those he has taken on board.

“He has become fearful of almost anyone except white males, really.”

Seabrook, who has been diagnosed with a mixed personality disorder, admitted making threats to kill, malicious communication, making threats to destroy property and having articles with intent to destroy property.

He was sentenced via a videolink from prison.

Judge Simon Bourne-Arton sentenced Seabrook to eight years’ custody with an extended two-year licence period.

After deeming him dangerous, the judge said: “The weapons were very basic, nevertheless of a very violent type which could have resulted in extreme injury, if not death, if put to use.”

He made an order banning Seabrook from going within 200 metres of a mosque when he is released and said Seabrook had a long history of espousing right-wing ideology.

Press Association