Man Convicted in Recent Riots Had Prior Mosque Bombing Attempt

It has come to light that an individual who admitted guilt for participating in public disorder during the summer months had previously made an attempt to detonate a mosque. Simon Beech, aged 36, from Chell Heath, made an appearance at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Monday, following his participation in riots that occurred in Hanley on 3 August. His sentencing is scheduled for 25 November. In December 2011, Beech and Garreth Foster, another man, received a 10-year prison sentence for intentionally setting fire to the Regent Road mosque in Hanley. Amjid Wazir, who chairs the City Central Mosque, commented that Beech appeared not to have assimilated any lessons from his earlier criminal act. During proceedings at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court in 2011, it was revealed that Beech and Foster had connected a pipe from a proximate gas meter into the mosque, aiming to trigger an explosion. The structure sustained damage estimated at £50,000 due to the blaze. During the 2011 trial, Beech informed the court that he had been affiliated with the English Defence League and the British National Party, yet he asserted that he was not racist and did not consider his perspectives to be extreme. Public disorder proliferated across the United Kingdom over the summer, partially attributed to unsubstantiated online assertions concerning the supposed individual responsible for the killing of three girls in Southport in July. Mr Wazir commended the efforts of law enforcement and the judicial system in ensuring accountability for those involved. He stated, “When the riots were happening in Stoke, and elsewhere in the country, people were so scared of going out.” He added, “They were worried, they were nervous.” For updates, follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X, and Instagram. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the material found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.