Crossbow extremist targeted 5G masts in arson campaign, court told
Milo Creese, from Ottershaw in Surrey, is on trial at the Old Bailey.
A crossbow-wielding arsonist targeted an Indian restaurant and 5G masts in a campaign motivated by extreme right-wing ideology, a court has heard.
Milo Creese, 40, allegedly went on to fire a crossbow bolt through a woman’s window and assault two police officers as they tried to arrest him in Surrey.
Opening his Old Bailey trial on Tuesday, prosecutor Lyndon Harris said Creese’s extreme mindset involved a hatred of Muslims and a belief that some atrocities were linked to 5G masts.
Mr Harris told jurors: “Over a three-week period from the end of October 2025 into November 2025 he embarked upon a course of conduct committed in furtherance of what the prosecution say is an extreme right-wing ideology."
“This course of conduct involved intentionally setting fire to an Indian restaurant in Chertsey, near to where he lived; intentionally setting fire to electrical equipment critical to part of the broadband network at two locations in Addlestone and another in Chertsey; damaging a window at a property in Chertsey and being in possession of a crossbow in public."
“All of this conduct, the prosecution say, was committed in connection with a terrorist purpose.”
At 3.15am last October 31, a member of the public had alerted the fire service to a smoking stick which was poking out of the letterbox at the 3 Rooms Indian Restaurant in Chertsey, Surrey.
Mr Harris said: “The restaurant was on the ground floor and above it were two residential flats."
“The fire service attended and contained the fire before further damage could be caused and anyone present in the flats above was hurt.”
Damage was caused to the front door, inside porch area and signage outside, but the fire did not spread further inside, the court heard.
An examination of the scene revealed a piece of burnt cardboard with several small white balls and metal balls inside it had been put in the letterbox.
CCTV footage showed a barefoot man pushing it inside the letterbox and setting light to it, before running away and making off on a bicycle, the court heard.
At 11.31pm on November 20, a telecommunications box at Spinney Hill, Addlestone, was set on fire, jurors heard.
A witness allegedly saw a man running away from the fire against a large electrical tower shouting: “Go away, it’s going to blow.”
After emergency services put out the fire, a black rucksack was recovered containing bacon rashers, ball bearings and compacted manure, jurors were told.
At around 8.30am on the following day, a control room operator for a company monitoring CCTV at 5G mast locations allegedly saw a man light a bin bag and throw it into a compound before running off.
On reviewing the footage, the operator saw the male was holding a crossbow in a black bag and the police were alerted.
Just nine minutes later – and before police could attend the incident involving 5G masts – Chertsey resident Hamaik Donsanjh also telephoned the police, jurors were told.
She had been at home when she heard a loud bang and initially thought it was to do with roadworks outside the property.
Mr Harris said: “She then worked out that the bang was in fact a bolt from a crossbow that had come through the window on her first-floor hallway inside her house from the outside.”
The dart was made from black metal and was about 15cm long, the jury was told.
CCTV footage from her property allegedly captured Creese at her front gate firing the crossbow bolt into her home, damaging the windowpane.
Officers who had been called about the 5G mast fire attended the scene and tasered Creese as he ran away from them, but to no effect, the court was told.
During a struggle, Creese allegedly hit an officer with the crossbow, rather than firing a bolt at him.
A later examination of Creese’s computer revealed his extreme right-wing ideology including a desire for violence against Muslims, the court was told.
Mr Harris told jurors: “Mr Creese considered that there was a belief that there was some link between Islam and 5G cell masts, and atrocities that Mr Creese believed certain Muslim people were committing."
“It is for that reason, the prosecution case is that Mr Creese’s actions in setting fire to the various sites in this case were done with a terrorist motivation.”
The court was told Creese accepted doing the acts alleged against him, but claims in his defence that he was insane at the time.
Creese, from Murray Road, Ottershaw, Surrey, has denied arson with intent to endanger life, three offences of arson, damaging property, having an offensive weapon in public and two assaults on an emergency worker.
The Old Bailey trial continues.