A SCHOOLGIRL who “took her own life” after being groomed by extremists scratched a swastika into her forehead, an inquest heard.
Rhianan Rudd became the youngest person charged with terrorism in the UK when she was detained aged 15.
PARhianan Rudd was found dead after being groomed by extremists[/caption]
The case was later dropped after the Home Office ruled she was a victim of exploitation by far-right extremists.
Rhianan is suspected of taking her own life aged 16 at a children’s home in Nottinghamshire – around 18 months after she was first held.
An inquest into her death heard the teen had downloaded guides on how to make a pipe bomb, homemade weapons and guerilla warfare.
Rhianan, who had autism, also scratched a swastika into her forehead after being “radicalised” by a white supremacist.
The court was also told she had created a shrine to Adolf Hitler.
Her mum Emily Carter believes the schoolgirl should have been treated as a “victim rather than a terrorist”.
The inquest is examining the involvement of agencies leading up to Rhianan’s death.
She was held in October 2020 accused of downloading a bomb-making manual and plotting a terror attack.
The teen was charged in April 2021 but the charges were dropped after evidence emerged she had been groomed by an American extremist.
A hearing last year was told MI5 had “provided police with intelligence” during their criminal investigation.
Jesse Nicholls, representing Rhianan’s mother, said the agency had been “monitoring” the teen at the time she was being groomed.
But Chesterfield Coroner’s Court was told the agency had no involvement in Rhianan’s arrest and charge.
Speaking today, mum Emily said she had begged police for help in September 2020 after noticing Rhianan had developed an “unhealthy outlook on fascism”.
She also warned anti-terror scheme Prevent that her daughter harboured a “massive dislike for certain races and creeds”.
In one email, Emily wrote: “I have done my best to turn her from any such ideologies. It seems to be falling on deaf ears. I would like some help in this matter.”
The court was told messages were sent on WhatsApp by Rhianan about how she “wants to kill someone in the school or blow up a Jewish place of worship”.
Another message – outlined in a student incident statement in September 2020 – said she “does not care who she kills and nothing matters any more”.
The messages were “deemed to be suggestive of a violent and right-wing ideological mindset” by police and a malicious communications crime report was filed.
However, it was deemed “appropriate” to try to obtain evidence rather than to arrest Rhianan.
Superintendent Stephen Riley, head of Counter Terrorism Policing East Midlands (CTPEM), told the court two police officers attended Rhianan’s home address on October 9, 2020, to seize a USB memory stick and a diary from her.
PDF files were also recovered relating to bomb making, guerrilla warfare and home-made weapons and her diary made references to firearms.
In October 2020, CTPEM shared information with MI5, who then opened an investigation into Rhianan, the court heard.
It was decided that Rhianan would not be arrested because it was “believed to risk some impact on her mental health” and “could possibly lead to further self harm and suicide attempts”.
But after she scratched a swastika into her head on the same day, officials decided to arrest her.
Mr Pleeth told the court that Rhianan’s charges were discontinued on December 29, 2021.
A pen portrait read on behalf of her mum said that Rhianon would get “fixated” on things, which is “normal” for people with autism.
The statement added: “My daughter being groomed was huge and I saw Rhianan change. This had a great impact on her and I did all I thought was right by her.
“She was one of the kindest and most loving children I ever had the honour to know. People used to tell me how lovely she was.
“I miss her more than life itself, I miss her smile, her laugh, her conversations – I just miss her.”
The inquest continues.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
Family handoutRhianan is suspected of taking her own life at a children’s home[/caption]
She became the youngest person charged with terrorism in the UK when she was detained aged 15PA
Her mum Emily told how Rhianan had been groomedPA Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
