A resident of south London has refuted claims of attempting to provoke an armed insurrection against the UK government amid the Covid-19 pandemic and of accumulating a stockpile of weaponry, which includes a dagger, a knife, and two crossbows.

Paul Martin, aged 60, appeared before the Old Bailey on Friday facing charges of encouraging terrorism, possession of items for terrorist purposes, and having a stun gun.

It is said that Mr. Martin, from Suffolk Road in Croydon, sent approximately 16,000 messages in a Telegram group called The Resistance UK, where he went by the name Perpetual Truth.

Currently out on conditional bail, Mr. Martin entered a not guilty plea to all three charges leveled against him and is scheduled for a two-week trial starting on 13 October.

Between December 15, 2020, and September 29, 2021, he allegedly engaged in discussions regarding the formation of a militia, the acquisition of weapons, and potential assaults on government officials and police personnel.

Additionally, it is claimed that Mr. Martin possessed a dagger, a knife, two crossbows, and arrows, which raised reasonable suspicion that he intended to use these items to carry out, prepare for, or instigate acts of terrorism.

He also faces a charge for possessing a weapon on September 28, 2021, that emitted a harmful liquid, gas, or other substance, specifically a stun gun.