Man who reportedly believes “Jewish elite” controls government appears in court on terror charges
A man who reportedly believes that the government is controlled by a “Jewish elite” has appeared in court on terror charges.
Oliver Lewin, 38, from Coalville, Leicestershire, pleaded not guilty plea to a charge of preparing terrorist acts.
Mr Lewin is accused of carrying out reconnaissance of potential targets, buying equipment, creating hideouts, and attempting to recruit others, Birmingham Crown Court heard earlier today.
The defendant’s alleged targets included transmitter masts and transport infrastructure.
Prosecutor Annabel Darlow KC said: “By 2021, Oliver Lewin was deeply opposed to the government of the United Kingdom. Mr Lewin, in fact, stated his goal was to topple the British government. He believed that it was dominated by a Jewish elite who took orders from Israel.”
She added that “By 2021 he had determined on the use of action to achieve his aim of destabilising the Government. His chosen method of attack was to target communication systems and transport infrastructure.”
Mr Lewin was said to have posted messages in a channel on the social media platform Telegram, which had been infiltrated by police officers, where he issued a “call to arms” and suggested “fire-bombing” sheds in the Sutton Coldfield of Birmingham.
“That is one of the UK’s most important transmission sites and is in fact the main broadcasting site for the Birmingham and West Midlands area, supporting TV and radio broadcasting services for many millions of users,” Ms Darlow said.
Mr Lewin reportedly admitted that he had purchased equipment, however, he allegedly told officers that he had no intention of carrying out an attack, arguing that he was just a “fantasist” engaging in “role play”.
According to the prosecution, Mr Lewin additionally said that he believed “white people across Europe were being systematically killed by the vaccine” in a “planned genocide”.
Earlier this year, a study found that about half of all references to the Holocaust on the encrypted messaging service, Telegram, either distort the facts about the genocide of the Jewish people, or deny that it happened at all.
Campaign Against Antisemitism closely monitors the far-right, which remains a dangerous threat to the Jewish community and other minority groups.
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