Two 14-year-olds have appeared in court accused of plotting to murder teachers and children at a school in the north of England.
Lawyers for the boys, from the market town of Northallerton in North Yorkshire, indicated they would deny conspiracy to murder.
During a 15-minute hearing at Leeds youth court, the boys stared directly ahead after confirming their names, ages and addresses. They were led away in handcuffs after sitting with three security guards behind the glass dock.
Directly in front were seated the parents of one of the boys and he mouthed “I love you” as he was led away.
The teenagers, who cannot be identified, were remanded into custody by district judge David Kitson to appear at Leeds crown court on 4 December. One of the boys also faces an aggravated burglary charge said to relate to a plan to break into a house and steal legally-owned firearms.
Solicitors for the youths did not apply for bail, but Sonny Lawton, representing one of them, said there would be an application at a future hearing.
Appearing via videolink from Westminster, Rebecca Mundy, a prosecutor for the CPS counter-terrorism division, said the charges were a result of an “extremely disturbing series of events”.
Kitson said: “I’m satisfied that these crimes are serious enough, even the aggravated burglary, that they should be dealt with in crown court.”
The boys were arrested on 28 October as part of an intelligence-led investigation, supported by North Yorkshire police, and were charged on Wednesday.
