A SUSPECTED terrorist who allegedly “praised Guy Fawkes” for his attempt to blow up Parliament was found hanged in prison two days after appearing in court, it has emerged.
Benjamin Hyland, 29, from Yeadon in Leeds, had been charged with a string of terror offences including trying to make a 3D-printed gun.
He had been remanded in custody after appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on December 9.
On December 11, he was found hanged and on Friday charges against him were formally discontinued during a brief hearing at the Old Bailey.
Hyland had been arrested on December 2 last year after police received information he had bought sulphur powder, hexamine tablets, hydrogen peroxide, citric acid and potassium nitrate the month before.
The offences against him included that he encouraged terrorism on Facebook and Instagram under the guise of the English Republican Army.
He was also accused of attempting to manufacture a submachine gun by 3D printing its parts.
Prosecutor Emma Haraway had told the court: “This is a defendant who has the knowledge to build weapons and firearms and to make explosive devices.
“The indications are that he was gathering information and material to advance his terrorist ideology of seeking to defeat the Government. He sees it is an oppressive system of governing the country.
“He has a terrorist ideology. It appears at this stage of the investigation he is the leader of a terrorist group that is not defined by the Government and is known as the English Republican Army.
“He has praised Guy Fawkes for his use of gunpowder.”
Hyland faced 11 terrorism charges: possession of a firearm; attempting to possess a firearm; possessing explosive substances for unlawful purposes; two counts of publishing a statement intending to encourage terrorism; and six counts of possessing a record containing information useful to terrorism.
He had previous convictions for battery and being in charge of a dangerously out of control dog causing injury.
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