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White Supremacist Sets Himself On Fire After Pouring Petrol On Synagogue

White Supremacist Sets Himself On Fire After Pouring Petrol On Synagogue

He has previous terrorism related charges

Amelia Ward

Amelia Ward

As he was taken away by police, Morgan said: "Please tell me that synagogue is burning to the ground, if not, it's poor preparation.

President of the Synagogue, Mr Richard Halsey said: "We sincerely thank the local police for their brilliant response and for their thorough investigation and support since the traumatic events of last year.A far right extremist was caught setting himself alight while trying to attack a synagogue.

Tristan Morgan, 51, laughed as he set fire to the religious building in Exeter, Devon, the Old Bailey heard.

Morgan was then set on fire when the explosion blew out of the window of the building on 21 July 2018.

Luckily, nobody was in the building at the time, but Superintendent Matt Lawler, the Local Policing Commander for Exeter, East & Mid Devon said this was down to 'sheer chance'.

He said: "Morgan is clearly very unwell and following multiple detailed medical assessments it is clear that a hospital order is appropriate. He will be subject of further assessments and close monitoring for many years to come.

"The footage, which was played in open court, shows the level of planning, determination and intent by Morgan, whom the wider evidence clearly showed held abhorrent extreme right-wing, anti-Semitic, and white supremacist views. It is only by sheer chance that the synagogue was empty and indeed that Morgan himself sustained only minor burns."

Previously accused of arson and two terrorism-related charges, he had uploaded a song called White Man to Soundcloud, encouraging people to commit terrorist attacks on non-white people. He was also found to own a copy of the White Resistance Manual.

Alistair Richardson, prosecuting, said Morgan 'revelled in the degenerate views of Nazi Germany and white supremacists'.

He added: "He appeared to be laughing, while trying to flatten his hair, which he described as looking like it had been 'whooshed up'.

As he was taken away by police, Morgan said: "Please tell me that synagogue is burning to the ground, if not, it's poor preparation.

PA

President of the Synagogue, Mr Richard Halsey said: "We sincerely thank the local police for their brilliant response and for their thorough investigation and support since the traumatic events of last year.

"In particular we wish to highlight how the community of Exeter has come together to demonstrate the genuine positivity in our city. We live in a wonderful place that has demonstrated tolerance and support for each other at times of need, and the whole Jewish community sincerely appreciates the support we have had from all faiths here in Exeter.

"In October we were thankfully able to return our services to the Synagogue, and in April this year we celebrated a wonderful re-dedication service.

"We are now back in our home, and it is as special as it has always been."

Featured Image Credit: Devon and Cornwall Police

Topics: uk news