A white racist with a Nazi dagger belonged to an outlaw group engaged in the race war.

A man found carrying swastika flags and the SS emblem has been arrested for violating the law on terrorism. Officers searched the defendant’s home in Cardiff and found documents containing instructions for making explosives and poisons.

Luca Beninkasa was also found wearing a Nazi dagger, an SS officer’s hat and uniform, as well as several flags, including an Italian Fascist flag and a swastika banner. The items were discovered when officers from the Wales Anti-Terrorism Squad raided his Whitchurch home in January last year. Items of camouflage clothing, a tactical vest, and masks were also discovered. Police officers seized his laptop containing prohibited material, including documents relating to far-right propaganda.

Benincasa had already pleaded guilty to being a member of the illegal group Feuerkrieg Division. He also pleaded guilty to four counts of gathering information that would likely be useful to a terrorist. The defendant became the first person to be convicted of being a “prominent member” of a group that allegedly promotes violence and mass murder with the aim of waging a race war. The group, which exists primarily online, was banned in July 2020.

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He also pleaded guilty in August to three counts of possession of indecent images of children, one count of possession of an extreme pornographic image and one count of possession of a prohibited image of a child between December 29, 2021 and January 1, 2021. 2022, for which he was also convicted. The court heard that Benincasa searched the internet for “forced teen pornography”, “rape games” and “child sacrifice”. A Nazi dagger, a Schutzstaffel (SS) officer’s hat and a swastika bracelet were among the items found in his bedroom when police raided his divorced parents’ home.

Appearing at Winchester Crown Court in Hampshire on Wednesday, the 20-year-old was jailed for five years and seven months on terrorism charges and eight consecutive months on image charges, which he will serve at a juvenile centre. He also had his license extended by three years on terrorism charges. Judge Jane Miller KC told him: “On February 1, 2022, he claimed to be the leader of the British branch of the FKD and one of its recruiters. You were clearly an important member of the organization.

He described the material seized by the police as “racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic” and said Benincasa’s messages showed his associates that he was “intolerant and determined”. Benincaza’s room in his father’s house in Cardiff, where he spent most of his time. When police raided it on Feb. 1 last year, it was filled with Nazi memorabilia, including parts of an SS officer’s uniform, a dagger, two airsoft rifles, skull-studded ski masks and bulletproof vests. . A flag with the emblem of the SS, Adolf Hitler’s paramilitary organization, hangs on the wall of Benincaza’s bedroom along with an Italian fascist flag.

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He also photographed himself on his phone in an SS uniform with his face covered, and on several occasions throughout 2021 brandished an SS Stanley knife, rifle and dagger. Benincasa’s laptop was found to contain far-right literature and documents, including instructions on safety and the manufacture of explosives, poisons and firearms, downloaded primarily from the Telegram app. An unfinished “Feuerkrieg Division Manual” was also discovered.

The draft states that the organization does not “encourage” illegal activity, but does not “abandon” a “true warrior” who “takes up arms and fights for our race.” Its enemies are the government, anti-fascist activists and journalists.

Police also discovered a “manifesto” written by Benincaza, which prosecutors called “extremely racist” and “extremely anti-Semitic”. He said that the fact that “the criminal scoundrel known as George Floyd caused more outrage with his death than the 13 Marines who died in Afghanistan says a lot about the world we live in” and that “ethnic states are the only solution ” which can be ‘achieved by force or capture’ because ‘race war is inevitable’.

An analysis of Benincasa’s Instagram and Snapchat accounts between March 2021 and January 2022 revealed messages he wrote such as: “I am a neo-Nazi”, “I am an extremist, I commit several hate crimes”, and: “I told my mother that I I want to become a terrorist… she doesn’t even know I’m in that category now”.

After the EC final between England and Italy on 11 July 2021, Benincas sent someone a text message: “All black England players are missing.” Prosecutors said investigators identified at least 33 individual Telegram transmissions in which Benincasa “actively recruited” people to join the FKD.

The court heard examples of potential members who submitted applications to Benincasa and, if accepted, sent “propaganda” and ordered them to print and post brochures in their areas and asked them to send in their photos “for verification”. your skin color.” He told a petitioner, “Generally, I want to commit genocide against everyone who is not white.” Most of the petitioners said they were under 18, the court heard.

In April 2022, two months after his arrest, Benincaza’s cell at HMP Chelmsford was searched and officers found satanic and far-right graffiti on the walls, door and table. His prison calls were traced and revealed conversations with other young people between March and July 2022, in which Benincasa identified with Incel culture and laughed at the news about his case. His defense attorney told the court that his client’s guilty plea, young age, lack of criminal record and probable diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder should mitigate his sentence.

Speaking after the hearing, Detective Superintendent Mark Pope, of the Wales Counter Terrorism Squadron, said: “The dangerous nature of the material in Benincasa’s possession cannot be underestimated. That’s why it’s so important to prosecute those seeking to join banned organizations. and collect materials that might be useful to a terrorist. This intelligence-led investigation led to the conviction of a dangerous individual and underscores the anti-terrorist police’s commitment to combating all forms of extremist ideology.”

Detective Superintendent Emma Naughton, Wales’ head of counterterrorism, said: “Police and other agencies are here to offer support to help protect people vulnerable to radicalisation. The sooner we can intervene, the better the chances of prevent people from becoming radicalized and being prosecuted.

“We are working tirelessly to fight terrorism. Our absolute priority is to ensure the safety of people who live, work and visit Wales. Suspicious activity is anything that seems out of place, unusual, or just plain out of place in everyday life. Please report it and let us decide if it’s important.”

Source: Wales Online