BNP bomb plot stalemate

| Friday, 23 February 2007 Source: Sky News

The jury has been discharged in the trial of two men with British National Party connections accused of plotting to make a bomb after failing to reach a verdict.

They had been deliberating for three days and the judge had said he would have accepted a majority decision.

Robert Cottage, 49, and David Jackson, 62, were alleged to have conspired to make an explosion with intent to endanger life.

Manchester Crown Court has heard that Cottage wrote of assassinating Tony Blair and admitted to stockpiling chemicals to protect his family in an "inevitable" civil war in Britain.

Police discovered chemicals including ammonia, hydrogen peroxide and hydrochloric acid in a raid on Cottage's home in Colne, Lancashire, last September.

Cottage also downloaded a manual from the internet on how to make bombs.

Both Cottage, who failed to be elected as a BNP candidate in last May's local elections, and dentist Jackson, of Nelson, Lancashire, deny conspiracy to cause an explosion.

Jackson, who is not a BNP member but attended several party meetings, also denies one count of possessing explosives. Cottage had earlier admitted the same charge.