8legs: New year's day

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crime1d ago

Hotel migrant who planted fake explosive outside MI5 HQ facing jail

The hotel migrant Julian Valente Pereira planted a fake explosive outside MI5 headquarters and faces a lengthy jail term.
CCTV shows Pereira placing the fake dynamite and then retrieving it from his bag.
The judge sent Pereira for sentencing at the Old Bailey after concluding the case was too serious for magistrates.
The Crown said Pereira showed 'grievances with the Home Office' and spoke of his asylum issues in interviews.
Pereira has been in the UK since 2018 and asylum was refused in 2023 with appeals rejected in 2025.
The incident caused a terrorism alert and police had to redirect resources on New Year’s Day.
The court noted Pereira’s schizophrenia, PTSD, and other health issues as part of the sentencing considerations.
Pereira worked at Hatton Gardens and had a fixed address provided by the Home Office.
The hoax involved a brown cylinder with a 'fuse' and a green cigarette lighter.
The Old Bailey sentencing will decide the final term, with potential imprisonment around 18 months.
Pereira admitted to the hoax but claimed mental health issues influenced his actions.

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